Asbestos Building Surveys & Registers

Whilst management surveys allow the Person Conducting the Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to comply with existing legislation for the ongoing management of any ACM’s detected and remaining, there is a requirement for this type of survey to be extended prior to any major works within a building, or prior to building demolition. The nature of the extended survey, which should ideally be undertaken with the area in question vacant, allows for the survey team to access as far as practicable previously restricted access locations, and also includes for destructive investigation based on site conditions and building constraints.

The extent of the destructive investigation may include for the opening up of sealed voids, wall cavities, further removal of non-asbestos flooring materials, and also the inspection within plant and equipment following confirmation of isolation. The main aim of this type of survey is to identify and provide an assessment of quantity for any additional suspected ACM’S likely to be disturbed by the refurbishment or demolition project.

The register subsequently completed, including the reporting of any additional samples required, should then be used to provide an indication of the materials present and in turn be used to formulate a project specific asbestos removal specification prior to the works being tendered or initiated.

Further to the completion of any original management surveys and whilst previously identified ACM’s remain in-situ, there is an existing requirement for the Persons Conducting the Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to arrange for the reassessment of existing Asbestos Management Plans, which in turn should include the completion of re-inspection surveys. The requirement for the completion of the management plan reviews and re-inspection surveys is based on the existing legislative timeframe in place and also taking into account other factors likely to have affected the remaining ACM’S, and the previous risk assessment criteria. Such factors would include change of activities within a building, change of building layout or previous remediation, including asbestos removal.

For re-inspection surveys we have in place the knowledge and skills to review any existing register prior to commencing with the site investigation. Once on site, the re-inspection survey shall include for the assessment of all previously identified materials, including the recording of the condition and other factors to ensure the revised risk assessment rating takes into account any changes since the original survey. During this type of survey we would also remain diligent for the presence of other suspected materials not previously detected or reported, in order that these could be sampled and reported as necessary.

The register completed as part of the re-inspection survey shall encompass the recording of the previously identified ACM’s and any additional materials in order to record the location, nature and condition of the materials, and allocation of risk assessment rating. As with management surveys, the risk assessment rating within the register takes into account the above parameters and with the activities and use of the building also factored into the final assessment

Upon completion of any asbestos survey completed by SSS, any suspected asbestos containing material samples collected are safely contained within sealed sample receptacles and uniquely identified in order that the sample reference and location, are consistent to the details recorded at the time and subsequently presented in the report and register.

In line with existing requirements of Workplace Health & Safety Legislation, arrangements are then made for the samples to be submitted to a testing facility with the correct level of NATA Accreditation*. At this stage and as further reassurance of our commitment to quality and correct analysis procedures, all samples submitted are supported by a project specific Chain of Custody.

The subsequent procedures of the NATA Accredited facility, include for various and complex testing of the samples, from the initial assessment using low power stereo microscopes through to the final stages of the fibre identification utilising high power Polarised Light Microscopy and Dispersion Staining Techniques.

Upon overall completion of the sample analysis, the NATA Accredited certificates of analysis clearly detailing the results for the samples submitted are expedited in order that those results can be formulated within the final reports and registers.

Where on certain occasions, SSS identify high risk incidences encompassing suspected asbestos containing materials, we also have in place the maintained cooperation of the NATA Accredited facility* to ensure the proficient analysis of any samples accordingly.

* indicates all such testing shall be undertaken by an independent organisation with the relevant level of NATA Accreditation.

As part of any site survey or assessment for the presence of suspected Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM’s), and subsequent confirmation of materials by analysis, the reporting system adopted by SSS encompasses the following key elements. These have been established to ensure that the quality and consistency of the reports were maintained, whilst also ensuring all reports were provided efficiently.

As and when confirmation were received to commence with a project, the initial administration within SSS would populate the required project folder and in turn generate the site specific documents, including Safe Work Method Statement, Report template and laboratory sample Chain of Custody.

The report template generated would include all details pertaining to the site, including client contact, full site address details and confirmation of the project start date. Additionally, the layout and content of the reports are designed to meet the requirements of current Workplace Health & Safety and provide our clients with confidence that they have a comprehensive asbestos register fully compliant with existing legislation.

For all site surveys and inspections SSS utilise the latest innovations in Information Technology, which include all site details, reporting and assessments being entered direct into the report at the time of the survey using mobile electronic equipment, whilst the utilisation of the latest available software also ensures that all reports are synchronized to our main server prior to leaving site.

This in turn ensures that all the various parameters with overall effect on the risk assessment status of suspected ACM’S, are recorded at the time of the survey, whilst for clarification of location and condition, images applicable to the materials identified are also inserted at the time of inspection.

The use of the latest technology allows SSS to conduct quality reviews remotely where required and also ensures that client reports and registers are produced efficiently.