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Posts Tagged ‘Asbestos Removal’
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Stuart Pearson at Guildford Magistrates’ Court for breaching the Control of Asbestos Regulations between the 20th of April and 1st of May 2011.
On the 30th of April 2012 the court was told that he had been employed to carry out the demolition of a house in Woking, Surrey, before groundwork’s were laid for a new property.
The previous homeowner had an asbestos survey carried out after a plumber refused to repair the boiler due to the presence of asbestos; this survey was given to Pearson to make him aware of the area which contained asbestos.
The survey highlighted that there were 12 metres of asbestos in poor condition within the house, with two of three areas classified as ‘high risk’. It went on to state: ‘This material is in very poor condition and debris now exists around the boiler and the floor within the rest of the room. This room must not be accessed until a full environmental clean and removal of all asbestos-containing materials has been carried out by a licensed asbestos contractor.’
The report also stated that the asbestos removal had to be undertaken in controlled conditions with the use of ‘enclosures, airlocks, negative pressure units and decontamination units’.
Redhills is one of the UK’s leading asbestos and environmental consultancies.
We have produced this document to answer the following asbestos related questions.
- What is the health risk from exposure to asbestos?
- What is the Control of Asbestos Regulations?
- What is the ‘duty to manage’ and who has it?
- What kinds of building are affected by asbestos regulations?
- How do I become asbestos compliant?
- What is an asbestos management survey and do I need one?
- What is an asbestos register?
- We are planning to refurbish or demolish some buildings do I need a survey?
- What are my responsibilities in relation to asbestos training?
- What should I do if someone has disturbed and damaged asbestos?
- Where is asbestos found in buildings?
For answers to all these questions, download the document here.
ARCA and ATAC the leading industry associations for asbestos removal and asbestos management have announced the dates of their Asbestos Industry Update Seminars for 2012. The line-up includes industry expert speakers from UKAS and HSE.
The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) and ATAC (Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Division) will be running regional seminars providing a general update to changes that have taken place during the last twelve months. The seminars will cover various points and subjects such as CAR 2012, Asbestos in Soils, Prosecutions and Preventative Measures, Asbestos in Schools as well as presentations from UKAS and HSE covering various issues.
The day has been broken up into sections to allow delegates to take in all of the information that will be presented with ample time slots programmed in to ask the speakers questions on each presentation. ATAC have also programmed in various breaks to allow delegates time to network with other delegates.
Environmental campaigners told a High Court judge today that an Olympic basketball training facility was being built on parkland filled with “lead and asbestos”.
They said the facility in Waltham Forest, north London, was being put up in an area “landfilled” after the Second World War and workers were disturbing “contaminated” earth.
Demonstrators raised concerns as Mr Justice Arnold – who has said he has tickets for an Olympic basketball game – renewed an order “restraining” them from engaging in “unlawful activity” at the site.
The judge granted the injunction on April 4 after lawyers representing the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) – a public body responsible for building Games venues – said protesters were stopping workers getting to the site at Leyton Marsh, which is part of a regional park.
He renewed it at a High Court hearing in London today after hearing arguments from the ODA and protesters.
The judge was a told that the ODA had licensed the site from park owners. Planners had given permission on the basis that the facility would be demolished and land restored to its previous condition after the Games.
He said he had to balance the ODA’s rights under that agreement and demonstrators’ rights to free speech and assembly.
Members of a Chew Valley action group are to present a detailed report opposing a second application for an asbestos landfill dump.
Campaigners are fighting against plans to dump 645,000 tonnes of the mineral at Stowey Quarry, near Chew Valley Lake.
Stowey Sutton Action Group was due to make its report public today and give further details about why it believes the renewed application should be turned down.
A previous decision to allow the application was quashed by B&NES planning committee in September after the council accepted it had not correctly followed the planning procedure in letting those living nearby know the details of the plan.
But the applicant, Oaktree Environmental, has now re-entered the application.
Campaigners have until Thursday to object before the official consultation period ends.
Members have put together a detailed 18-page report on why they believe that B&NES should again turn down the application. The report goes through the negative effects the dump would have on the area.
Asbestos Awareness
A laboratory testing firm has been prosecuted after putting workers at its Tyneside premises at risk of exposure to asbestos.
An investigation was started into the activities of Exova (UK) Limited after a complaint about the company was submitted. The complaint suggested that the company had not dealt with damaged asbestos at its site at The Grubb Parsons Building on Shields Road, Newcastle.
The company had been advised to follow asbestos regulations and had failed to do so after the second recommendation.
The company’s own accredited asbestos testing branch carried out a survey of the premises on the 3rd of October Newcastle Magistrates’ Court Heard. The branch identified damaged asbestos in two separate areas of the site and the survey stated that the asbestos should be removed, repaired or sealed.
In February 2010 a further survey was completed, this survey also stated that the previously identified damaged asbestos was still there.
Andrew Woodhall, and HSE inspector, visited the site on 15 July 2010, he found the recommendations of the two earlier surveys had still not been implemented and employees were continuing to access and work in the area.
Due to employees working in the area where asbestos was present and exposure was likely, the HSE inspector instigated enforcement action.
Leading asbestos remediation and Specialist Environmental Support Services contractor, Silverdell (UK) Limited is pleased to announce the renewal of their asbestos licence for the maximum period of 3 years. The renewal follows an intensive assessment by the HSE that included priority site visits, a full review of Silverdell’s asbestos policy and general procedures; a series of interviews with senior and managerial staff and a thorough review of asbestos specifics – including regulative understanding and control methods.
Mark Roberts, Group Business Development Director, Silverdell PLC said:
“We are once again pleased with the outcome of this assessment as it is recognition of our continuing commitment to deliver safe working environments for all those affected by our works within this highly regulated industry”.
A three-year licence is the maximum issued by the HSE in respect to asbestos removal works. Silverdell’s licence number is: 971203954
Silverdell (UK) provides specialist asbestos management and removal, strip-out demolition, refurbishment, ductwork decontamination, land remediation and scaffolding access services. Enquiries can be made via the website at www.silverdell.co.uk or by calling: 020 8591 6677
Bradford councillors have been warned they may have been exposed to potentially-deadly asbestos during a visit to the city’s former Odeon cinema.
Trespassers who have broken into the building may also be at risk according to its owners, the Homes and Community Association (HCA).
Warning letters have been sent to councillors who visited the building before they made the controversial decision allowing it to be demolished.
The move comes after the HCA commissioned consultants to carry out a survey of the potential risk as the building had deteriorated further.
A spokesman said “very high” levels of asbestos were discovered and the HCA is now taking urgent action to remove the dangerous substance.
Councillor Mike Ellis (Con, Bingley Rural), chairman of the regulatory and appeals committee, was joined by six other members and officers for the visit.
They were given protective suits when they entered the building with Council officers for the visit, organised by the Odeon’s previous owners Yorkshire Forward, said Coun Ellis.
He said: “I can confirm that we have been notified about the problems that have come to light and that there is the possibility that we have been exposed.
“I would say that perhaps they could have been more vigilant.”
Asbestos has been found in almost 200 schools in the Bristol area.
MPs and peers branded the presence of the potentially lethal material as a “time bomb in our schools”, earlier this month. They then called for a scheme for the removal of asbestos.
Bristol City Council has said that asbestos is present in about 50 of the city’s state primary schools and two secondary schools; however it seems unlikely that it will be removed due to the costs.
A total of 81 schools in South Gloucestershire have asbestos in the fabric of their buildings. In North Somerset asbestos is present in 52 of the 67 primary schools and 8 of the 10 secondary schools.
All the buildings were audited by the council in 2009 and 2010 implementing annual re-inspections.
A report was released by the Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health earlier this month, calling for regular updates about asbestos for parents, teachers and staff. They also called for asbestos to be removed from all schools.
The city council has said that the two secondary schools in the city have “some level of asbestos” and the primary schools have “varying degrees of asbestos”. Most schools seem to have low levels of asbestos.
A full investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is being called on by the Trade Union GMB, following allegations that council sub-contractors working on properties in Pollard Close, Holloway, in December 2010 broke strict regulations.
The trade union claimed that workers had disposed of white asbestos floor tiles in ordinary bins, potentially exposing refuse collectors and also the public to the dangerous substance.
The council insisted that the tiles, which are known to be of a low contamination risk, were bagged up and appropriately disposed of at a licensed site.
Gary Doolan, GMB’s Islington branch secretary said that the council has provided no evidence to prove that the claims were wrong.
Gary Doolan said that:
“It only takes one fibre of white asbestos to cause harm. It should be treated with the same priorities as high risk material.”
NEWCASTLE OFFICE
Address: Suite 1 Hubbway Business Centre, Bassington Lane, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 8AD
Contact: 01670 700907 newcastle@redhills.co.uk
BACKGROUND
Redhills Newcastle Office was opened in 2009 primarily to facilitate a large rail contract within the North East. Over the past two years as our reputation has grown within the region we have begun to secure a larger client base and increased the number of staff within the region. In 2011 we moved offices to support this growth and aid the expansion of the office.
With a strong management team based in Newcastle with in excess of 30 years combined experience. Working within a number of different sectors within the region including, Rail, Local Authority, Education, Industrial and Financial our aspiration is to continue to expand both the client base and number of consultants within the region.
Client: ISG Plc
Location: Harris Academy, East Dulwich, London
Contractor: Deconstruct UK Ltd
Completion Date: July 2010
Sector: Education
Removal of asbestos insulation board roof soffits from a teaching block at the Harris Academy for Girls, London.
About the project:
The project brief was to safely remove the asbestos insulation board soffits from the eaves of the main roof to the teaching block.
The project was for ISG who had been commissioned directly by the academy to refurbish the building. The main refurbishment scheme had to be completed during the summer break, so it was imperative that works were fully considered and planned to satisfy the programme.
Project challenges:
The project was undertaken in a educational environment and it was vital that the works were carried out to the highest standards with the asbestos being completely removed and the area left ’spotlessly’ clean.
The asbestos removal was the first ‘construction’ activity on site and any delay would impact upon the overall programme. Enclosures were constructed in an external environment and had to be robust enough to withstand adverse weather conditions.
Client: Clements Retail Ltd Location: Regent Street, London W1
Contractor: Deconstruct UK Ltd
Completion Date: November 2010
Sector: Retail
Removal of asbestos insulation debris from within major high street retail outlet in the heart of London’s West End.
About the project:
The project involved the removal of asbestos insulation debris from pipework and low level wall surfaces. The asbestos debris is likely to emanate from a previous asbestos removal project carried out to a poor standard. The debris was identified during a refurbishment and demolition survey carried out in advance of the shop re-fit work commencing.
Project challenges:
This project was undertaken in the heart of London’s West End on one of the busiest shopping streets in the country.
All plant and equipment was delivered outside normal working hours to minimise contact with the general public. Waste was also removed from the building on an out-of-hours ‘wait and load’ basis. Deconstruct Operatives had to ‘transit’ to the decontamination unit that was sited on the adjacent road, whilst wearing their respiratory protective equipment (RPE). This required careful planning and timing was of the essence so as to avoid unnecessary alarm to the public.
Download the full Clements Retail case study here
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