Asbestos Removal

The industry itself was instrumental in introducing many of the techniques and methods we now regard as the norm i.e. enclosures, suppressants etc.

The asbestos licensing regulations were introduced to control companies engaged in asbestos removal operations, as a result removal companies became more professional and responsible operations.

The asbestos industry is now a highly specialised movement, employing carefully controlled processes endeavouring to ensure that no person is exposed to the hazards of asbestos inhalation.

An enclosure is a physical barrier erected around the asbestos work area which is sealed to minimise leakage so that, as far as reasonably practicable, asbestos dust and waste arising from the work is prevented from spreading to the surrounding environment. Operative working within the enclosure must wear suitable protective clothing and respiratory equipment and must decontaminate on leaving the enclosure.

A hygiene facility is any mobile or fixed facility which is provided to enable people removing asbestos to change from normal outdoor clothing into protective clothing and respiratory protective equipment before entering into an asbestos contaminated work area, and to effectively decontaminate themselves when leaving the work area.

All enclosures must have means of access/egress for personnel, plant and the removal of asbestos waste. Openings (air locks) are designed to prevent asbestos dust escaping into the general environment. Wherever practicable, asbestos workers will enter the enclosure directly through the hygiene facility. Where the hygiene facility cannot be positioned on the enclosure an air lock system is constructed, in this case operatives will transit to the facility after an initial decontamination process.

Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is designed to be worn in a contaminated atmosphere and to provide its wearer with a filtered air supply. RPE includes a wide range of devices, from simple respirators offering basic protection against low levels of dust, to self contained full face breathing apparatus. RPE is considered as the last means of preventing and controlling exposure to hazardous substances, with the primary means being the control of dust release within the enclosure.

The primary purpose of air monitoring is to protect the health of employees by determining or checking the concentrations of airborne asbestos to which they are exposed. Air monitoring also offers further purposes when checking the integrity of asbestos removal enclosures and as final clearance indication following completion of asbestos removal works prior to and after enclosure removal. An independent laboratory using appropriate sampling equipment and microscopy techniques carries out air monitoring.

All asbestos workers are subject to medical examination once every two years. The examining body will record details of the examination and the exposure. The records are quite separate from confidential clinical medical records and are held for a minimum of forty years.

We are able to provide trained and competent personnel to undertake all asbestos operations, both supervisor and operative training is refreshed and certificated annually. Training is generally carried by ARCA (asbestos removal contractors association), which is a highly recognised trade association.