Asbestos Management Policy - Section 5
5. Service Standards
5.1 The Moray Council recognises the need to protect its employees, residents and contractors from the harmful effects of asbestos by:
- complying with all Asbestos Regulations and all attendant guidance notes and codes of practice;
- providing standards not less than those set out in the Approved Codes of Practice;
- taking all reasonably practicable steps to prevent our employees and others from being exposed to asbestos fibres;
- providing appropriate training and procedures for safe systems of work for Council employees. Updated as necessary where work results in a possible risk of exposure to asbestos;
- providing its employees with all necessary Personal Protective Equipment.
In support of this, the Council will instigate the following practical steps:
5.2 Survey of properties to ascertain if asbestos containing materials are present
Surveying, sampling and assessment of asbestos-containing materials will be undertaken for all ‘non-domestic’ areas associated with the Councils’ housing stock. The surveys will be carried out by members of Housing Service staff who have received specialist training and who hold a minimum qualification of P402 (Building Surveying and Bulk Sampling for Asbestos). Reports will be produced for all areas surveyed, and will be held by the Capital Programmes Team. Prior to any major refurbishment or upgrading works in these areas, the reports will be used to consider appropriate methods of work, and copies provided to consultants and contractors as required.
Surveys will also be undertaken on individual properties within the Councils housing stock when suspected Asbestos containing materials are discovered.
Information relating to any Asbestos containing materials discovered will be held in a central Asbestos Register, maintained by the Capital Programmes Team. Copies of the register will be provided to Property Services, Area Housing Offices and Building Services DLO and updated copies circulated as and when updates are entered.
5.3 Asbestos Register
The Asbestos Register will be maintained and updated on a regular basis as and when further surveys are completed. Environmental Services, Property Section and any other services who may be carrying out works in area where Asbestos may be present will be provided with the information detailed in the Asbestos Register when works instructions are issued. It is essential that this information is available to all Contractors prior to carrying out work on the housing stock.
5.4 Letting of Tenders and Issue of Work Orders
At Client Instruction stage, prior to Property Services site survey, the Capital Programmes Section will refer to the Asbestos Register and will advise Property Services, who will in turn advise the tendering contractors of any areas which are known or are presumed to have asbestos materials present. If the project is of a major nature, or if an asbestos survey has not yet been undertaken, asbestos surveys of an appropriate type may be necessary. The Housing Service will be responsible for arranging surveys on this type of project. When a survey is not possible then it is necessary that the client presumes the presence of Asbestos containing materials. The contractors will be requested by the Property Services Contract Administrator to undertake such work assuming asbestos is present.
It is recognised that the practical restrictions of carrying out such surveys, does not guarantee that all materials containing asbestos will be found. It may be necessary to carry out more detailed and additional surveys prior to letting certain major contracts.