QUESTIONS & GUIDANCE Ask the HSE
popular questions it has been asked on the HSE infoline the previous month
What do I have to do to fulfil my ‘duty to manage’ asbestos?
Each issue the HSE shares one of the most
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Asbestos Regulations 2006. To comply, you need to:
• Take reasonable steps to find out if there’s any asbestos in the premises, how much, and what condition it’s in. You should presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence they don’t
• Record the location and condition of the asbestos-containing materials
• Assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from the materials identified
• Prepare, and keep up-to-date, a plan that sets out in detail how any risk will be managed
• Put the plan into action • Periodically review the plan to ensure it remains relevant
• Provide information on the location and condition of any asbestos-containing materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them.
asbestos in the premises (unless agreed otherwise).
If you have responsibility for the maintenance or repair of non- domestic premises, you are likely to have the duty to manage any
If this is you, you are responsible for protecting people who work at or use such premises from the risks to ill-health that exposure to asbestos can cause.
The duty is contained in regulation 4 of the Control of
Asbestos is only a risk to health if fibres are released into the air and breathed in. So, when assessing the premises and making your plan, remember asbestos is only dangerous if disturbed. If asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed or damaged
Standard answers:Fire detectors
Rob Hine of the British Standards Institution answers your questions on standards. This issue: Sensory protection
Question: Do all workers in noisy and potentially noisy environments have to be provided with hearing protection?
Answer: “Noisy” is not a precise enough term – the level of noise has to be properly assessed. Then the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 provide the answer. Essentially, if the
noise level reaches 80 dB, employers must assess the risk to workers and provide appropriate information and training. If it reaches 85 dB, employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones. A noise level of 87 dB is the maximum a worker must be exposed to, taking into account any reduction provided by hearing protection.
Q: What are the main standards that apply to hearing protection products?
A: The BS EN 952 series of product standards cover most commonly used types of ear plugs and ear muffs, while BS EN 458:2004 provides guidance for the selection, use, care and maintenance of hearing protectors.
Q: Where is eye protection equipment used, and what form does it take?
A: It’s used in a wide variety of situations from industrial to recreational, and can take many forms from simple spectacles to full face screens. In industry, however, eye protection is often combined with head protection to provide a solution that protects not only the eyes but also the face from hazards such as impacts, sparks from cutting or welding, electric arcs and splashes from molten metal.
Q: How is safety eyewear graded? A: It is graded according to the type of protection it provides and, when it is tested according to BS EN 166:2002,
90
this can be shown as a series of numbers or letters. For example, the letter B applied to goggles or face screens shows that they will protect against a medium-energy impact, while the number 9 shows that they will protect against molten metals and hot solids.
Q: What level of protection do standard prescription eyeglasses provide?
A: It’s impossible to be certain, as there are too many variables. For this reason, non-safety prescription eyeglasses should never be relied on for protection.
Q: What are the key standards for protective eyewear?
A: The most important, as already mentioned, is BS EN 166:2002, although there are many other standards for specific types of eyewear. BS EN 169:2002, for example, covers welding filters and BS 4110:1979 covers visors for vehicle users.
during normal use of the building they should be left in place and managed, you should not remove it unnecessarily.
The duty to manage is about putting in place appropriate steps to protect maintenance workers and others from the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres by ensuring they have the information they need about where asbestos is. It’s certainly not about removing all asbestos. However, if you do discover any asbestos-containing materials that need to be sealed, encapsulated or removed, you will need to employ a licensed contractor if the materials are high risk, e.g. pipe insulation and asbestos insulating panels. If the materials are lower risk, such as asbestos cement, then an unlicensed but competent contractor may carry out the work.
For more information:
www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/managing HSE INFOLINE
Calls about any aspect of health and safety law can be directed to the Health and Safety Executive's Info- line 8am to 6pm weekdays on 0845 345 0055. Calls are charged.
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