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Asbestos policy statement

English Partnerships will continue to develop and implement preventative and protective measures relating to health risks associated with occupational exposure to asbestos fibres with the objective of reducing the exposure to airborne respirable fibres of employees, contractors working on its behalf and any person who may be affected by any of our activities.

Hazard identification and risk assessment are the basis for introducing practical preventive policies and control measures in the workplace. Information on the risks, systems of work and the precautions to be taken will be communicated to employees and others who may, in the course of their work for or on behalf of English Partnerships, be exposed to asbestos.

Guidance notes will be produced to provide more detailed information on the hazards, risks and appropriate preventive control measures in order to fulfil English Partnership’s obligations under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 .

Adequate information, instruction and training will be given to employees and other persons affected by English Partnerships' activities to ensure that they are aware of:

the health risks associated with asbestos
the reasons for and the nature of the precautions to be observed to protect themselves and other people who may be affected
how to make use of the protective equipment and other safeguards
their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Effective steps will be taken to ensure that all persons entering a property where asbestos removal work is being undertaken are made aware as soon as is reasonably practicable of the nature of the operation and any matters likely to affect their health and safety.

To control the risks to employees, building users, contractors and other persons, the following measures will be adopted:

No new asbestos-containing material shall be used in English Partnerships’ properties (Note: The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 ban the supply and use of all types of asbestos).
English Partnerships shall ensure that, as a minimum, a Type 2 survey will be carried out on all properties which, due to their age or nature of construction, are likely to contain asbestos.
English Partnerships shall ensure that an Asbestos Management Plan is developed, maintained and reviewed annually for all property where it is has obligation to maintain and repair as landlord, lessee or tenant. English Partnerships shall co-operate with other duty holders under any tenancy arrangement to achieve this objective.
Where existing properties contain asbestos containing material which is sound, in good condition and has not been, or is not likely to be subject to abrasion or deterioration, the material shall be labelled and left undisturbed, its position noted in the Asbestos Management Plan and its condition monitored and periodically reassessed.

Where existing installations or parts of property contain damaged, deteriorating or inadequately sealed asbestos containing material, the material shall be:

enclosed, sealed or encapsulated
removed and replaced by suitable material not containing asbestos
in the case vacant or unoccupied property, the property or the affected parts of the property, will be secured to prevent access.

Where building or engineering works are to be undertaken in English Partnerships’ property, the Asbestos Survey Information and Asbestos Management Plan for the building will be the first point of reference. Additional site inspections, test results, remedial work or removal of asbestos materials, must be recorded in the Asbestos Management Plan for the property.

The location of asbestos containing materials will be brought to the attention of any person who is likely to disturb the fabric of the property in the course of their work, in particular, maintenance contractors.

English Partnerships and its agents will only appoint laboratories and analysts (referred to as ‘Asbestos Consultant’ in this policy) to undertake air sampling and surveying work who meet the following key criteria :

For surveying premises only - UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020.
For the analysis of bulk samples - UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025. The Asbestos Consultant must participate in AIMS and maintain a standard of ‘satisfactory’.
For air sampling and subsequent analysis of air samples - UKAS accreditation to IEC/ISO 17025. The Asbestos Consultant must participate in the RICE scheme and be classified as a Category A or Category B Laboratory.
For the supervision of asbestos removal works - hold a supervisory licence granted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
Analysts and surveyors must be experienced and qualified to BEBOH P.Cert 13 or BIOH Specialist Module S301, or hold the appropriate proficiency module (P401 - 405) for the element of work they are required to undertake.
Comply with HS(G)248 Asbestos - The Analyst's Guide for Sampling, Analysis and Clearance Procedures.

All licensable asbestos work will be supervised by the Asbestos Consultant. This will include the provision of background and leak monitoring during the asbestos related works and subsequent clearance and reassurance air monitoring where necessary.

Asbestos Consultants will be appointed independently of the licensed contractor either directly by English Partnerships or by its agents.

Only contractors licensed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), registered with CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) and members of ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association) will be appointed to undertake work with asbestos falling under the scope of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

Download the full version of the Asbestos policy - PDF (188 KB)

Last updated: 25 February 2008

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