Careful preparation is required to ensure that workers are kept healthy and safe when working with asbestos. A work plan is also required by law for risk class 2 or 2A activities. This means that an employer must draw up a work plan (or have one drawn up) and have its contents checked by an Expert Asbestos Removal Supervisor (DTA).
A work plan must be drawn up before the work starts. Each work plan will be unique and tailored to the specific situation at the remediation site. This is something you need to bear in mind when using standard checklists and automated work plans.
Minimum requirements applicable to the work plan
The work plan must, in any event, include:
- A description of the nature, duration and location of the work.
- A description of the working method.
- A description of the measures to be taken to reduce all possible risks.
- Details of the tools, machines and other resources to be used.
- The names of the Expert Asbestos Removal Supervisor, Expert Asbestos Remover(s) and other employees.
Work preparation instructions
- The mandatory asbestos survey report must be used as a basis. The risk classes, removal method, advice and conclusions must be included verbatim in the work plan.
- An inventory must be drawn up in advance of the specific conditions and risks associated with the site. Drawings of the work area must be made prior to work starting to ensure a safe working environment. A drawing of the work area or containment unit is a good tool for understanding how best to arrange machines and implement measures.
- If large, complex remediation work needs to be carried out, the work plan should be divided into logical sections.
- Any unnecessary information should be left out with only important and mandatory information being included.
Acceptance of the work plan
The Expert Asbestos Removal Supervisor must check the content of the work plan before the work starts. The content of the asbestos survey report must be included in the work plan.
Planners and/or Expert Asbestos Removal Supervisors should not accept asbestos survey reports which do not have clear drawings or proper descriptions. If there are any questions about the content of the survey report, the party that has commissioned the work should be consulted.
Deviating from the work plan
While performing the work an Expert Asbestos Removal Supervisor will sometimes deviate from the work plan due to unexpected situations. The supervisor must then indicate in the work plan which points are being deviated from and amend the work plan accordingly. Any new risks are to be reassessed and the measures described in the work plan. Work must not be started until the work plan has been amended. Clear agreements need to be made within the organisation regarding who is responsible for what.
Risk which are not related to asbestos
Whenever work is going to be performed, the risks need to be identified and measures taken to ensure that work can be performed in a safe and healthy way. A 'Project Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E)' is mandatory for risks which are not related to asbestos, such as fall hazards when working at height and dangers associated with using machines and resulting from performing heavy physical work.