In April 2012 the Control of Asbestos Regulations came in force. Its purpose was to enforce the control of exposure to asbestos in Europe and check the compliance with the requirements adopted for manufacturers and employers.
This resolution contained changes to the previously existed Directive that came in force in 2009. The changes were minor and mostly were related to the non-licensed work with asbestos. Companies that deal with this mineral should notify about works that involve potential asbestos exposure or direct contact, store records about such working process. Some changes also touched medical surveillance.
According to the new Regulations, if the materials that contain asbestos are in proper condition, not damaged, they can stay on place and do not require removal. Regular check is required to ensure that they can still be used. Personnel who are responsible for maintaining some buildings must monitor potential sources of asbestos exposure and provide protection from it for people working in or near those buildings.
People that want to use asbestos in construction projects or some maintenance work that involve the contact with asbestos, its presence should be clearly identified, stating the condition, type and all other details. Moreover, all possible risks related to potential exposure to asbestos need to be assessed and recorded. Risk management on such production is a requirement too.
The situation with licensed work with asbestos is the same. Only licensed contractors can work with asbestos. These are works like removing asbestos, covering asbestos-containing walls and other surfaces with special asbestos coating sprays, working with asbestos lagging, insulation, etc. Such type of works requires training and a certificate that a person is properly qualified.
Non-licensed works require efficient control and protective measures. The limit for asbestos dosage is 0.1 fibers per cm3. This is not a safe level, as for no there is no information, if a ‘safe’ concentration exists. This is the allowed limit, and on any place of asbestos exposure the dosage must tend to this limit as close as possible.
Today’s training programs teach personnel how to work with asbestos, what to do in different unexpected situation that may occur in process. Such training courses are made for maintenance personnel and other workers who have to contact with asbestos in all possible ways.
Reports for non-licensed works should contain the list of workers, the level of possible exposure and the major asbestos-related information. Monitoring of the air composition is not required, if to assess the amount of asbestos in the air can be made relying on the experience in works of such kind or there is a published guidance for it.
Medical surveillance is required for people working with asbestos. This rule is mostly for non-licensed workers, as licensed ones are already under doctor’s surveillance. This will help to reduce the number of patients with advanced stages of asbestos-related diseases and monitor the general situation with consequences of exposure to asbestos. Working with asbestos in all possible forms is now strictly regulated in Europe that help to keep the situation under control.