Routine maintenance in older buildings? Asbestos may be hidden in the materials you're about to disturb.
Routine building maintenance, plumbing repairs, electrical work, HVAC servicing, ceiling access, frequently disturbs materials that may contain asbestos. Pipe insulation, ceiling tiles, floor adhesives, cable ducts, and partition walls in pre-2000 buildings are all common locations.
Maintenance workers who are unaware of asbestos locations are at significant risk of accidental exposure. Before any invasive maintenance work in an older building, the asbestos register must be checked and workers must be informed of any asbestos-containing materials in the work area.
If no register exists, one must be created. If the planned work will disturb identified asbestos materials, specialist removal or management procedures must be implemented before maintenance can proceed.
The Problem
Hospital maintenance teams work in buildings where asbestos is present in pipe insulation, ceiling voids, boiler rooms, and behind wall panels. Plumbing repairs, electrical upgrades, and HVAC servicing frequently require accessing areas where asbestos materials are located.
Healthcare facilities cannot afford unplanned closures. Maintenance workers must be trained to check the asbestos register before every job, and procedures must be in place to stop work immediately if suspect materials are encountered unexpectedly.
What You Need
Frequently Asked Questions
What training do building maintenance staff need regarding asbestos?
All maintenance workers who may encounter asbestos must complete asbestos awareness training covering: identification of common ACMs, understanding the asbestos register, procedures when ACMs are found or accidentally disturbed, use of appropriate PPE, and reporting requirements. This training must be refreshed regularly and is a legal requirement in most jurisdictions.
Who is responsible for managing asbestos?
The duty holder, typically the building owner, landlord, or managing agent of non-domestic premises, is legally responsible. Under CAR 2012 Regulation 4, they must identify ACMs, assess risk, prepare a management plan, and inform anyone who may disturb them.
How to manage asbestos in the workplace code of practice?
The HSE Approved Code of Practice L143 provides statutory guidance on managing asbestos. It covers the duty to manage, survey requirements, risk assessment, management plans, training, and emergency procedures.
What is the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic buildings?
Building owners or those responsible for maintenance have a legal duty to identify asbestos-containing materials, assess their condition, create a management plan, provide information to anyone who might disturb the materials, and monitor condition over time. This duty applies to all non-domestic premises and common areas of residential buildings in most jurisdictions.
Can maintenance workers accidentally disturb asbestos?
Yes, routine maintenance activities such as drilling, cutting, cable routing, and accessing ceiling voids frequently disturb ACMs. Building managers must ensure all maintenance staff are asbestos-awareness trained and that the asbestos register is consulted before any intrusive work begins.
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