AsbestosRoofing.co.uk

The UK’s Health And Safety Executive has compiled a guide to explain best practice when cleaning an asbestos roof.

We are pleased to include this guide for instant download. To view the HSE’s “Cleaning weathered asbestos cement (AC) roofing and cladding guidance sheet”, please click here.

Please note that the guide covers only asbestos cement sheets and no other type of asbestos. The HSE has a number fo guides available for download at their web site at http://www.hse.gov.uk.

In all cases, the HSE guidelines supercede any information provided on this web site and should be considered as being the authoritative guide.

You will notice that the guide includes mention of a specialist cleaning machine.

Only the most specialised contractors will have access to this type of equipment – it cannot be hired.

Because of the nature of the cleaning process, you should make sure that your contractor not only has the necessary equipment, but also a significant Public Liability insurance.

The nature and size of the cleaning heads also means that in some cases, areas close to the valley gutters on certain roofs cannot be reached and that these areas will require manual cleaning.

If you require additional information regarding the cleaning of asbestos cement roofs on commercial or industrial property only, please call David Carter on 0121 711 7110 (Mon-Fri 8:30 – 6pm).

 

What Can Can Go Wrong If An Asbestos Roof Is Not Properly Cleaned

In September 2011, a roof coating company was employed to complete works at a college in Wrexham (news item).

Before a coating could be applied, the roof first has to be cleaned of all moss and lichen, so that a good, solid key can be formed between the roof and the new coating.

The coating company began cleaning the roof with jet wash lances, which washed the cement from the asbestos cement roof panels, leaving behind asbestos fibres which contaminated the building and the immediately surrounding area.

Asbestos roofing works are not presently licensed, meaning that any competent roofer can carry out works.

Once the contamination occurred however, the job became licensed work and the HSE became involved in the process, issuing proceedings against the coating company and the college.

Several breaches were found in addition to the asbestos contamination caused by the incorrect cleaning methodology employed, including insufficient scaffolding.

Who Is Competent To Clean An Asbestos Roof?

We are frequently to recommend competent contractors to perform asbestos roofing or asbestos roof cleaning works.

Our professional indemnity insurance, as well as the RICS code of conduct prevents us from making specific contractor recommendations, but the fact is that competence is judged only on a case by case basis.

This is because all roof contracts present their own unique problems and usually, a methodology has to be designed for each individual job, especially for larger and more complex roofs.

This means that the contractor has to submit a method statement on how exactly the roof is to be cleaned, as well as outlining the precise health and safety procedures to be employed whilst the works progress.

As the leading specialist asbestos roofing surveyors in the UK, we often act as CDM Coordinators and project managers on this type of work, to ensure that not only that the correct procedures are in place, but also, they are actually adhered to.

Too often, we hear of contractors submitting health and safety plans and method statements, only for something to go horribly wrong on a job, because certain operatives become complacent once the works start. Harnesses are disregarded, the roof is trafficked or people use incorrect methods, as they did in the Wrexham college example above.

Who Is Responsible When Things Go Wrong?

No matter what goes wrong on an asbestos roofing job, the ultimate responsibility usually lies with the client – that means the duty holder of the building.

Certainly the contractors have to make sure things are done properly, but it’s your job as a building occupier to make sure that the method statements are adhered to. Larger jobs should be notified to the HSE and a qualified CDM Coordinator with specific experience of asbestos roofing works should be appointed to make sure that the correct procedures are followed at all times.

As we state in several places on this web site, asbestos roofs don’t kill people, complacency does.

In the example of Wrexham College, there are two things to consider and in our opinion;

1) the contractor was not competent to clean the roof. They used high pressure jet wash lances that destroyed the roof.

2)  the client (college) was not cpmpetent in specifying the works, apparent because of the incorrect methods employed.

Remember, as the cient, you are responsible for what happens in and on your building. If you are not competent to specify and manage such works, call somebody that is and do not rely on contractors to get it right.

To our knowledge, there are only a handful of contractors that possess the correct equipment to carry out roof cleaning works, but we would still test competence on each and every job they were being considered against as nothing can be taken for granted.

How Can We Help?

We offer a complete packaged service to clients wishing to avoid all of the problems associated with many asbestos roofing works.

Following a survey of the roof, we will specify the works on your behalf, issue tender documentation to suitably experienced contractors and adjudicate the tendering process. An important aspect is to make sure that sufficient consideration has been given to the health and safety aspects of the job. We also look very carefully at the methodology to be employed in carrying out the works and of course, we ensure that all relevant insurances are in place.

As the works get underway, we hold site meetings with the client and contractors to ensure that everybody involved understands the processes, the health and safety requirements and the progress that is being made.

We act as CDM coordinators and ensure that the site is being run as per the method statements. On larger jobs, this will involve unannounced inspection visits where the job and all associated H&S records are examined.

As project managers, we handle contract valuations that ensure the client is paying only for works that have been carried out according to the schedule.

At the end of the job, we inspect the works, ensure that the necessary guarantees are issued (if applicable) and that any asbestos waste (especially from cleaning contracts), has been disposed of correctly in accordance with the asbestos regulations.

Our fees for carrying out this very specialised work is based on a percentage of the job value. In many cases, our fees will more than pay for themselves during the job specification and competitive tendering process, as we are often able to achieve lower prices for our clients than when they appoint contractors directly.

But, the real savings come in terms of lives and problems. Health and Safety is often a contentious issue and we have all used or heard of the term, “health and safety gone mad”.

The simple fact is that sadly, almost every regulation concerning working on asbestos roofs or other asbestos products, has at least one death behind it.

If you want to ensure that you comply with all of the regulations and get your asbestos roofing works completed properly and within budget, call David Carter on 0121 711 7110.