An asbestos management plan (AMP) is a comprehensive document that details the procedures and protocols for effectively managing asbestos in a building. The purpose is to ensure the safety of those who may come into contact with asbestos during maintenance, renovation, or demolition activities.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, it is a legal requirement for the duty holder of a commercial building that contains asbestos to put an asbestos management plan in place. Here we talk about why asbestos was used, why it was banned and how the risks can be safely managed.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has some amazing properties.
There is evidence that asbestos might have been used as far back as 4500 years ago with people using it to make cooking pots and utensils. There is also evidence to show that Egyptians used asbestos around 2000-3000 BC to embalm the bodies of their dead pharaohs.
At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution asbestos hit new heights when the first commercial asbestos mines were opened and the benefits of asbestos were exploited to produce products, machinery, plant and building materials.
The following types of asbestos was most widely used during the twentieth century:
Chrysotile
Chrysotile was the most commonly used type of asbestos. It has a curly, flexible structure and is found in products like roofing materials, gaskets, and brake linings.
Amosite
Amosite is an amphibole asbestos with straight, needle-like fibres. It is normally brown or greyish in colour. Amosite was often used in construction materials like insulation boards and cement products.
Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos)
Crocidolite has very fine, blue fibres and is considered one of the most hazardous forms of asbestos due to its fragile nature. It was used in insulation, cement, and textiles.
Why was asbestos considered a wonder product?
Asbestos has some amazing properties which made it highly sought-after in the twentieth century:
Heat resistant
Asbestos can withstand extremely high temperatures without burning or breaking down. This made it invaluable for fireproofing materials, insulating pipes, boilers, and other high temperature equipment. It played a crucial role in enhancing fire safety and protecting people and property by preventing the spread of fires.
Electrical insulation
Its insulation properties made asbestos an ideal choice for electrical insulation, such as the manufacturing of wiring and chemical components.
Chemical resistance
Asbestos is resistant to various chemicals which made it invaluable to industries where exposure to corrosive substances might impair plant and equipment in the manufacturing process. It was used in chemical manufacturing, laboratories, and the production of chemical-resistant materials.
Water insolubility
Being insoluble in water, asbestos was used for weatherproofing and waterproofing applications in construction. Builders and roofers utilised it to create durable, water-resistant materials for roofing.
High tensile strength
Asbestos has considerable tensile strength which made it suitable for reinforcing materials and improving their durability. This property contributed to its use in the manufacture of cement products, automotive parts, and various construction materials.
Versatility
One of the most significant advantages of asbestos is that it can be easily moulded into a wide range of products. This adaptability meant asbestos was incorporated into diverse industries, from construction to manufacturing and beyond.
What products was asbestos used for?
Asbestos was used for a variety of products, and this list is by no means exhaustive:
- Adhesives
- Cement panels
- Cement pipes
- Cloth
- Consumer products (toasters, irons, heaters, hairdryers etc.)
- Door seals
- Fireproofing
- Floor tiles
- Insulation
- Packing material (chemical industry as an example)
- Putty for windows
- Roof tiles
- Gaskets
- Rope and string
- Sound proofing in conjunction with bitumen (if you look under an old sink and see what looks like a black square, that probably contains asbestos)
- Vehicle brakes.
Between the start of the industrial revolution and into the 1970s asbestos seemed to be everywhere, but it had a hidden secret.
When was it discovered that asbestos was dangerous?
In 1920s the first medical case of an asbestos related death was recorded in Manchester. Nellie Kershaw worked in an asbestos factory for 7 years, spinning asbestos yarn. Repeated exposure to the asbestos fibres over that time led to Nellie’s death from pulmonary asbestosis.
The major failing of asbestos was discovered. If fibres were inhaled, they would lodge in the lungs and then there was no way for them to be removed or dealt with by the body’s normal defence mechanisms.
Imagine an asbestos fibre like a small tree branch with spikey twigs. Each spikey twig acts like a barb on a fishhook – once imbedded in the lungs it gets stuck fast.
Since then, deaths are still occurring, even though legislation and regulation was first passed in the 1930s to try to control exposure to asbestos. To this day, over 5000 workers each year die as a result of an asbestos related disease. That is more deaths per year than result from motoring accidents.
What diseases does asbestos cause?
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) but can also occur in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) and other organs. It is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and has a poor prognosis.
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestos exposure can increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Asbestos-related lung cancer may have similar symptoms and characteristics to lung cancer caused by smoking and other factors.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by prolonged and heavy exposure to asbestos fibres. It results in the scarring of lung tissue, leading to decreased lung function and severe breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
Pleural thickening
Heavy asbestos exposure can lead to pleural thickening, where the lining of the lungs (pleura) becomes thicker and less flexible. This condition can cause chest pain and reduced lung function.
Why is asbestos still killing people today?
The seriousness of asbestos exposure became apparent in time and the Asbestos Regulations 1999 were passed banning it from being used. However, the damage had been done.
One reason why asbestos is still killing people today is that there are still asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in premises across the UK and globally which needs to be managed. Workers may not be aware that asbestos is present in their workplaces.
Another reason is how asbestos is identified and subsequently managed by landlords, occupiers and employers who are responsible for the identification, control and management of ACMs. Asbestos does not pose a risk if it remains in good condition, but if it is damaged it has the potential to affect multiple people.
A huge number of people were exposed to asbestos in its heyday, and it can take many years for diseases caused by asbestos exposure to develop. Those exposed are normally unaware that they are inhaling the minute fibres which are invisible to the naked eye. Depending on the scale of exposure a person has had over time and the body’s response, it could between 10 and 30 years before the real affects are noticed.
How do you establish whether there is asbestos in your building?
Asbestos is commonly found in premises built before 1999 and therefore includes public buildings, housing, schools, shops, offices, factories, and warehouses and common parts of buildings. It is the duty holder’s responsibility to take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in their premises. If there is asbestos, how much is present and what condition it is in?
It is important to presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not.
Asbestos management survey
To find out whether asbestos is present in your building an asbestos management survey needs to be carried out by someone who is competent and authorised. To establish whether asbestos is present, an asbestos test may be conducted as part of the survey.
An asbestos management survey is the standard inspection needed to meet the legal responsibilities for managing asbestos. This survey identifies the location of asbestos and recommends actions to take depending on the condition and location.
Asbestos management surveys state:
- Whether asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are present.
- Where ACMs are located and what form they take.
- What type of asbestos it is (chrysotile, amosite, or crocidolite).
- What condition ACMs are in and what course of action is needed (removal, manage in situ, encapsulate, or label).
Demolition survey
As the name suggests, this survey is completed before a building or part of a structure is demolished and again the survey must be undertaken by someone who is competent and authorised. It aims to identify all asbestos containing materials prior to demolition taking place.
Refurbishment survey
This survey is conducted when a building, or part of a building, is due for refurbishment, including structural changes, extensions, rewiring or replacing a heating system. It ensures planned work can proceed safely while assessing whether asbestos is present in the areas affected by the proposed refurbishment. Again, the survey must be undertaken by someone who is competent and authorised.
What is an asbestos register?
An asbestos register is a comprehensive document that contains essential information about the location, condition, and management of ACMs within a building.
An asbestos register should contain:
- Details of where asbestos containing materials is within a building, including floor plans and descriptions.
- The type of asbestos present (chrysotile, amosite, or crocidolite) and its form (for example insulation, tiles or pipes).
- Whether ACMs are in good condition, or they are damaged and deteriorating.
- An asbestos risk assessment which includes the likelihood of exposure and the level of risk to occupants and workers.
- The date the asbestos risk assessment took place and when it should be reinspected.
- Information about accessibility of ACMs, and whether they are sealed or incapsulated and any measures to prevent disturbance.
- Photographs of ACMs to support identification and monitoring.
An asbestos register is part of asbestos management planning, and it should be continually reviewed and updated.
What information should asbestos management plans contain?
Asbestos management plans should contain:
- An overview of the plan’s purpose, scope, and objectives.
- Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for managing asbestos including the duty holder and other relevant personnel.
- Asbestos register.
- How the asbestos register will be shared with contractors and workers, ensuring they are aware of the presence of ACMs and precautions.
- A description of the control measures in place.
- What to do if ACMs are disturbed, including emergency evacuation procedures.
- A timetable for monitoring the condition of ACMs.
The asbestos management plan must be periodically reviewed and monitored to make sure it remains relevant and that management controls are working, and ACMs have not been damaged.
Whether you need a new asbestos management plan or an audit of your existing plan, our experienced asbestos consultants at Praxis42 can help you. We will check your asbestos management plan is working, -comprehensive, compliant, and up to date.
Should asbestos be removed?
People often think that if asbestos is present then the best way to manage it is to remove it. Sometimes this is the only option, due to its condition.
However, asbestos removal presents some risks, is expensive and can be extremely disruptive to the day to day working of an organisation. These are alternative actions that may be taken:
- Develop a safe system of work including a work permit relating to access, maintenance and installation activities where ACMs are known.
- Label the ACMs. Using standard industry labels makes it easy for everyone to understand.
- Make sure those who could come into contact with asbestos are told of its locations and to report any suspected damage.
- Ensure people are informed of hidden ACMs, for example, floor tiles covered by carpets.
- Make sure an emergency plan is in place in the event that an ACM becomes damaged.
- Regularly inspect ACMs in your building.
- Take action to repair or improve the condition of ACMs. This work must be carried out by licensed contractors.
Asbestos Awareness Training
Our IATP IOSH Approved, CPD Certified Asbestos Awareness training course helps managers and workers to understand the risks from asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and how to keep themselves and others safe from accidental exposure.
Developed by experienced health and safety consultants, the course covers the risk of asbestos exposure, an overview of asbestos management planning, and how to identify and report ACMs.