Buildings built before the late 20th century contain asbestos, a major environmental and health danger. Asbestos surveys are essential for reducing its dangers. This article discusses asbestos surveys, their procedure, and the regulations that govern them to explain why they are necessary.
The Value of Asbestos Surveys
The health consequences of asbestos exposure make asbestos surveys essential. Disrupted asbestos materials release fibres into the air, which can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Early asbestos detection and care are crucial because many diseases can emerge years after exposure.
Asbestos surveys are essential for locating and assessing building asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). This information is essential for asbestos management or removal, protecting present and future building occupants.
Types of Asbestos Surveys
Different asbestos surveys are suitable for different situations. Understanding these categories ensures the right survey is done for needs.
The most common survey is an asbestos management survey to assure continuing management of asbestos-containing materials in a building. ACM presence and extent are determined by minimal intrusion. The survey seeks ACMs that could be destroyed or disturbed during occupation or maintenance.
A more extensive asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey is required before any work is done. It entails destructive investigation to find all asbestos-containing places. By identifying and removing ACMs, the main purpose is to prevent asbestos exposure throughout project activity.
The Asbestos Survey Process
An asbestos survey requires numerous stages to be thorough and accurate.
Initial planning includes comprehending the survey’s scope, including the building type and work to be done. Surveyors analyse asbestos documents and plans to create a comprehensive plan.
Site examination and sampling: Trained asbestos surveyors investigate the site thoroughly. They test questionable ed materials in the lab. This stage entails entering various parts of the building, often using invasive procedures to reach buried asbestos.
Laboratory Analysis: Accredited labs analyse samples. PLM and SEM are used to identify and quantify asbestos fibres.
The findings are used to write a detailed report. This document describes ACM locations, extent, condition, and kind. Photographs, risk assessments, and asbestos management, encapsulation, or removal recommendations are common.
Asbestos Survey Regulations
Different countries have asbestos management and survey regulations. Legal compliance and building occupant safety depend on following these standards.
UK: The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require asbestos risk assessments and surveys. Building owners and businesses must comply with asbestos management laws, which typically include asbestos surveys.
United States: The EPA and OSHA have strict asbestos handling laws. Before rehabilitation or demolition, ACMs must be surveyed and treated.
In Australia, the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations require asbestos surveys in buildings built before 2004. Effective asbestos risk management requires regular re-inspections and clear records.
Professional Surveyors’ Role
Asbestos surveys must be done by trained professionals due to their complexity and hazards. These licensed surveyors have the knowledge, expertise, and equipment to inspect and handle asbestos safely. They also follow strict safety and legal regulations to reduce survey hazards.
Asbestos Survey Challenges
Expertise and great attention to detail are needed to overcome asbestos survey problems.
Hidden ACMs: Some asbestos-containing materials are hidden beneath floors or in walls, requiring invasive inspection methods.
Deterioration: Asbestos materials degrade, releasing fibres. Surveyors must thoroughly evaluate ACMs to determine risk.
3. Complex Building Layouts: Surveying older buildings or structures with complex layouts might make it difficult to identify all potentially dangerous components.
Historical Records: Incomplete or missing historical data on past renovations or asbestos removal attempts can make it difficult for the surveyor to trace and preemptively manage all ACMs.
Management of Asbestos After Surveys
After an asbestos survey, risk management procedures must be adopted. Survey reports often include recommendations like:
Encapsulation: Protecting ACMs from fibre leakage.
Enclosure: Separating ACMs from building occupants.
ACM removal and disposal: Usually requires professional contractors and rigorous safety standards.
Regular Monitoring: Re-inspections and air quality evaluations to ensure safety.
Future Asbestos Surveys
Asbestos is widely recognised as a risk, new technologies and methods improve survey efficiency and reliability.
Digital Tools and Software: Advanced software creates detailed digital maps and databases of buildings to document asbestos locations. This technology improves tracking and management over time.
Improved Training and Certification: Asbestos surveyors receive ongoing training on safety, detection, and regulatory changes.
Improvements in Detection Methods: Microscopy and real-time fibre counts are being developed to improve asbestos identification accuracy and speed.
Education and Public Awareness
Public understanding of asbestos concerns and asbestos surveys is essential to risk mitigation. Educational campaigns and tools enable building owners, managers, and occupants understand their asbestos exposure responsibilities and precautions.
Conclusion
Buildings, especially those built before the asbestos ban, need asbestos surveys to stay safe and healthy. We can avoid the serious health risks of asbestos exposure by professionally surveying and handling asbestos-containing materials. Responsible parties must hire certified professionals to conduct asbestos surveys and implement management or removal plans to comply with regulations and protect building users.