• HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM A DUTY HOLDER?
A wide range of people potentially have a duty to manage asbestos including employers and the self employed if they have responsibilities for maintaining or repairing non-domestic properties including owners of premises whether they are occupied or vacant. This applies to commercial and public sector properties alike.

• WHAT DO THE H&SE EXPECT ME TO DO?
Everyone must start to take action now. If you are a duty holder you must find out whether your buildingcontains asbestos, and what condition it is in. You must assess the risk, eg whether it is likely to release fibres and also make a plan to manage that risk, especially from planned or unplanned maintenance activities.

• WHERE WOULD ASBESTOS BE IN MY BUILDING?
Asbestos has thermal insulation, fireproofing and many other physical and chemical properties and was widely used for many years. In buildings for example it was used in cement cladding, gutters and pipes, fireproof sprays on structural steel joists, insulating board in service ducts and wall partitions, ceiling and floor tiles, pipe and boiler lagging, ropes, yarns, fire blankets, textures coatings such as artex, toilet cisterns and seats etc.It is estimated that some 4.4 million buildings in Britain still contain asbestos.

• IS ASBESTOS AS BAD AS THEY SAY IT IS?
Over 3,000 people die each year from asbestos related diseases in the UK alone. The numbers are predicted to rise to 10,000 a year by the year 2020. All asbestos related diseases are caused initially by inhalation of asbestos fibres which can be easily released by simple functions such as drilling or hitting with a forklift etc.

• HOW DO I FIND THE ASBESTOS AND ASSESS IT?
The simplest way is to commission an asbestos survey to be carried out by professionals who will provide a comprehensive report and can formulate an asbestos register which details all the areas in your building which contains asbestos. By allowing professional surveyors to carry out this work you are less likely to fall foul of the law.

• ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SURVEY?
Yes there are three recognised forms of survey which SHEPHERD ASBESTOS SOLUTIONS can undertake:

Type 1comprises of a site walkover where the surveyor will be looking for areas likely to contain Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs). Boiler rooms, service risers and ducts (where easily accessible) will be visually inspected along with other rooms, stores etc. within the remit of the survey. This type of survey however does not include sampling and is therefore limited as to its use.

Type 2 is largely similar to a Type 1survey, however, representative samples of suspected ACMs will be taken for laboratory analysis. It is good practice to take samples from materials that may appear, to the untrained eye, to be an ACM even when the surveyor knows that they are free. This acts as reassurance to workers, knowing that a product has been proven asbestos free. We recommend this survey type for all occupied buildings.

Type 3 is an extension of a Type 2survey, usually performed prior to major refurbishment or demolition. This type of survey aims to find all ACMs in a building by the use of destructive, intrusive methods. All risers, floor and ceiling voids and concealed areas will be accessed, by reasonable force, and inspected. This type of survey is not normally used in an occupied building.

• WHY USE SHEPHERD ASBESTOS SOLUTIONS?
Shepherd is one of the few Companies who have remained strictly independent. This means when you commission a survey from one of our national offices you can be assured that the survey report will provide you with information that will help you formulate a management plan that is best suited to you. Copies can be supplied in written or cd format. If the asbestos is in poor condition, and cannot be managed safely, then we will tell you. If required we can offer the services of an Accredited Asbestos Removal Company.

SHEPHERD ASBESTOS SOLUTIONS have undertaken to have our surveyors qualified to a level of BIOH module P402, a specialist asbestos qualification and accordingly, can provide objective and cost effective consultancy advice in order to formulate a management plan and assess your risk effectively.

• ARE THERE PENALTIES FOR NON COMPLIANCE?

YES, the penalties may be severe and could include:

1. Potential criminal action with imprisonment of individuals of up to 2 years.
2. Unlimited fines for companies and up to £20,000 for individuals.
3. Disqualification of Directors.
4. Closure of entire sites by HSE inspectors.
5. Failure to ensure the renewal of buildings insurance.

IN THE FIRST INSTANCE CONTACT SHEPHERDASBESTOS SOLUTIONS

TEL: 0845 60 10 282

e.mail: asbestos.solutions@shepherd.co.uk

AND DO YOUR DUTY BEFORE THE DEADLINE ON 21st MAY 2004