ASTRA hope to have definitive documentation to support the License applications soon.

The following provides important detailed requirements for negative pressure units (NPUs or Air Movers)

Part 2 (BS 8520-2:2009) “Negative pressure units. Specification”

The predecessor of BS 8520-2 (PAS 60/2) was produced in 2004 following discussion with stakeholder groups. Although the manufacture of negative pressure units (NPU’s) has previously met the expectation of the asbestos removal industry, no specifications or specific guidance existed. It was therefore felt that there was a need to provide the asbestos removal industry with a minimum specification to raise industry standards with particular attention to health and safety issues. It specifies requirements for portable and/or transportable NPU’s incorporating HEPA filters covered by BS EN 1822 for use in the controlled removal of ACMs. It applies to NPU’s designed to create negative pressure within a portable decontamination unit facility or working enclosure and two part NPU’s. There is a detailed description of the components of a NPU in the standard.

It has come to HSE’s attention that NPUs are being supplied that do not meet BS 8520/2 specifically:

A failure to provide a differential pressure monitor in the NPU so that a judgement can be made as to whether a HEPA filter is blocked (high pressure differential) or split (low pressure differential)
A failure to provide non-return flaps to the NPU so that reverse air flow cannot occur when the system is switched off.
It is particularly important that differential pressure monitors are used and are checked on a daily basis. Partially blocked HEPA filters lead to diminished air flow and reduced negative air pressure in the enclosure. Split filters will lead to extensive contamination outside the enclosure.

All NPUs therefore now require:

Differential pressure monitor
Non-return flap

The scheme allows low risk offenders to work in the community whilst still serving their sentence. The scheme is open to any inmate with a firm offer of employment within the Asbestos Removal industry.

More details to come soon.

ASTRA have also secured contracts to survey Petrochemical sites within the European Union. More news and pictures to be added to the web site soon.

In November last year, Sir John Beddington, head of the Government Office for Science, was approached by Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, to consider whether any evidence exists that would “justify an imminent change to the ‘international scientific consensus on the classification of asbestos’ and so allow ministers to reconsider UK legislation”.

At a meeting of experts, chaired by Sir John, in March – which included representatives from the HSE, Imperial College London, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – it was agreed that while there is consistent evidence pointing to chrysotile as a cause of lung cancer, more uncertainty exists with regard to causation of mesothelioma, particularly at low levels of exposure.

The experts concurred: “Evidence suggests that the relative risk of getting lung cancer from chrysotile exposure compared to amphibole forms of asbestos (such as brown and blue asbestos) is within one order of magnitude, when compared at the same exposure levels. The relative risk of getting mesothelioma from chrysotile exposure compared to amphibole is within two orders of magnitude, when compared at the same exposure levels.”

Although the experts concluded that chrysotile breaks down in the lung more quickly than amphibole forms of asbestos, they also asserted that chrysotile’s toxicological action is unclear, and pointed to uncertainty about whether the carcinogenicity of asbestos fibres is linked to how long they remain in the lung, or to cumulative exposure over time.

It is not possible, the group argued, “to determine a threshold level below which exposure to ‘pure’ chrysotile could be deemed ‘safe’ for human health. The same applies for exposure to chrysotile from cement during removal and disposal activities.” It also pointed out that there is evidence that mined chrysotile, or products made from chrysotile in the past, have been contaminated with amphibole forms of asbestos.

In a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary earlier this month, Sir John concluded that there is “no justification for an imminent change to the international scientific consensus on the classification of chrysotile as a Class 1 carcinogen”.

A DWP spokesperson told SHP: “It is clearly important that government policy reflects the latest scientific evidence. We asked Sir John Beddington to examine whether there is any justification for an immediate change to the international scientific consensus on the classification of asbestos, following a number of Parliamentary questions on the subject last year. His view is that there is not, and until this consensus changes the Secretary of State has no plans to amend the [Control of Asbestos] regulations.”

In the run-up to the launch of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, John Bercow MP, then work and pensions minister serving in Iain Duncan Smith’s shadow government, called into question the level of risk posed by white asbestos, and the potential cost to businesses confronted with the need to remove asbestos by using licensed contractors.

In February, the European Commission requested that the UK change provisions exempting some maintenance and repair activities from the application of the EU directive on protection of workers from asbestos.

 This course refreshes operatives knowledge and understanding of asbestos removal procedures. Updates are given regarding any changes to legislation and working practices. Training in accordance with Regulation 10 of Control of Asbestos regulations 2006 and HSE Training Guidance Chapter 4.

 For further details Call Us today on: Telephone: 0845 689 1407

This course teaches operatives knowledge and understanding of Non Licensed Asbestos Traning removal procedures. Training in accordance with Regulation 10 of Control of Asbestos regulations 2006 and HSE Training Guidance Chapter 4.

For further details Call Us today on: Telephone: 0845 689 1407

This course provides operatives knowledge and understanding of asbestos removal procedures. Course content is delivered via theory and practical training methods. Training is in accordance with Regulation 10 of Control of Asbestos regulations 2006 and HSE Training Guidance Chapter 4.