Asbestos was considered an innovative material in construction for decades. It was valued for its fire resistance and durability. However, it is recognised as a major hazard today, lingering in the walls, ceilings, and insulation of old buildings.
Managing this risk is not just about avoiding fines. It is also about ensuring the safety of every person entering the premises. This is why you should have an asbestos management plan as a building owner or a facility manager. If you want to learn about the 8 steps in the development of an asbestos management plan, then keep reading.
Step 1: Conduct Comprehensive Asbestos Testing
Data is the foundation of any effective management strategy. If you don’t know where exactly the asbestos is located, any plan you create will essentially be just guesswork. But this is dangerous as you will be dealing with carcinogens. Therefore, the first step is to commission a comprehensive asbestos testing.
Testing should always be performed by licensed professionals who are trained and equipped to safely handle potential hazards. The process typically involves a thorough site inspection, where professionals collect samples of the materials suspected of containing asbestos. The samples are then sent for laboratory analysis to detect the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Step 2: Assess the Condition and Risk Level of ACMs
Once lab tests confirm the presence of asbestos, your next step should be to evaluate the danger posed by it. Not all asbestos is immediately hazardous, as the risk heavily depends on the condition of the material.
Asbestos is the most concerning when it’s disturbed, as harmful airborne microscopic fibres get logged in the lungs, causing serious health issues in the long term. So, evaluate factors like friability or how easily it crumbles into dust. You must also look for signs of deterioration, along with the likelihood of it being disturbed during normal building operations. Finally, determine the priority levels for each identified ACM.
Step 3: Develop a Detailed Asbestos Register
Once you finish collecting data and assessing the risks, that information must be consolidated into a central document known as an asbestos register. The register must include specific details, like the exact location of the asbestos, the type of material it’s found within, its current condition, and its assigned risk rating.
You must also make the register accessible to anyone who needs it, including maintenance crews and contractors. You should also regularly update it to reflect the current state of the building. So, overall, you need to effectively integrate all your initial asbestos testing results into a live document.
Step 4: Create an Action Plan for Managing ACMs
Once you gain an understanding of what you are dealing with, you will need a strategy. So, prepare an action plan that outlines exactly how you will handle the identified ACMs. The options generally range from complete disposal and encapsulation to enclosing or simply continuously monitoring.
High-risk materials may require immediate disposal, while low-risk items might only need monitoring to ensure that they don’t degrade. Make sure that only licensed contractors are hired to perform the necessary remediation work.
Step 5: Implement Control Measures
While long-term remediation is planned, you must also ensure safety during daily operations. So, implement practical control measures that can minimise exposure risks for occupants and workers.
You can install clear warning signage in affected areas. You can also limit access to the zones where asbestos is present. Also, make sure that you create safe work procedures for your maintenance staff. Make the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during asbestos handling or remediation mandatory for workers.
Step 6: Train Staff and Communicate the Plan
A plan will only be effective if people can follow it precisely. You must meet the training requirements for employees, contractors, and even building occupants regarding the risks. Ignorance is a major reason behind accidental exposure. So, awareness and education serve as the main defence.
Remember that asbestos awareness training should cover the common locations of ACMs, recognising asbestos deterioration, and the actions to avoid with the ACMs. Apart from formal training, you should also place importance on seamless communication. So, make sure that everyone knows the emergency procedures and has the emergency contacts handy.
Step 7: Establish an Emergency Response Protocol
Accidents can happen even with the best controls in place. For example, a pipe might burst, or a wall may get damaged, which will disturb the ACMs. So, you must have a pre-defined set of actions planned in case asbestos is accidentally disturbed.
Your protocol should include details on evacuation procedures, containment strategies, and immediate reporting hierarchies. The plan should also include contact information for certified professionals who can be deployed immediately for cleanup and reassessment.
Step 8: Review and Update the Asbestos Management Plan
Finally, view your asbestos management plan as a living cycle rather than a one-off project. You must determine how frequently the plan should be reviewed to ensure that it remains effective. Whenever you conduct renovations, dispose of materials, or commission new testing, you need to update the asbestos register and the management plan accordingly.
Need Professional Help with an Asbestos Management Plan?
Developing a comprehensive strategy to manage asbestos is an important responsibility for homeowners and facility managers. A thorough asbestos management plan delivers value by protecting human health and helping organisations stay compliant with regulations.
If you have not started developing a plan yet, don’t wait for an incident to happen. Start with a professional assessment and then follow the steps discussed in this article to ensure long-term safety for your property and its occupants. So, reach out to an environmental remediation service provider near you for asbestos testing today!
