Need some advice?
Leave your details and we will get in touch.
I want to be contacted by an expert1 /
Following a number of recent incidents whereby rail workers have come close to unintentionally disturbing asbestos containing materials (ACMs) within buildings and rolling stock, it is essential that sufficient information regarding the potential location of asbestos is recorded prior to any demolition, repair and refurbishment works taking place. With this in mind, it is equally important for rail workers to know what to do if an ACM is disturbed, while also being aware of the health risks associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibres.
With this in mind, it is equally important for rail workers to know what to do if an ACM is disturbed, while also being aware of the health risks associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibres.
The general rule of thumb is that ACMs will only pose a risk to health if they are disturbed or damaged. If they are in good condition and are left untouched, they should not pose any danger. However, if a building or location has no known information about whether or not it contains asbestos, it must be assumed to contain the fibrous mineral, with action immediately taken to determine if this is the case.
It is possible that any train, station or depot constructed before the year 2000 may contain asbestos. In buildings it is often found in ceiling tiles, insulation boards, vinyl floor tiles, roof sheeting and pipe lagging, and railway buildings are no exception. Its fire resistant and insulating properties also made it a highly popular material for the construction and maintenance of trains. Located predominantly within engine rooms, brake pad linings and packing piston cylinders, asbestos in its varying forms has also been discovered in such materials as:
It is a legal requirement to determine whether asbestos is present or reasonably expected to be present within a building or on rolling stock, with failure to comply having serious consequences for owners and contractors. Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 requires duty holders of non-domestic premises to identify, locate and manage the risk from asbestos, and this includes railway lineside structures, railway vehicles, train stations, depots and other buildings constructed for rail-related purposes.
In order to comply with CAR 2012, duty holders must:
While the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulations 2013 prohibits the use of asbestos in building fabrics, the Office of Rail Regulation issued an Exemption Certificate in 2014, which has eased restrictions against the marketing and use of a railway vehicle or component containing ACMs where there is no risk to workers and the general public. To meet the requirements of Schedule 5A of REACH, the following actions are required:
Finally, the Waste Classification WM3 2015 provides guidance on best practice when controlling waste that is suspected to contain asbestos. To meet the guidelines, rail organisations should assess whether asbestos is present in the form of free dispersible fibres, as well as whether it makes up more than 0.1% of waste. They should then take steps to safely dispose of waste where high levels of asbestos fibres have been detected.
Caution is advised when undertaking tasks that require drilling holes or breaking out/pulling cables when the surrounding material is suspected or known to contain asbestos, as such activities are highly likely to release the hazardous fibres into the surrounding environment. In the event of a known or suspected ACM being disturbed, rail workers are required to adhere to the following steps:
SOCOTEC’s Asbestos team is well equipped to support the rail network with asbestos management and consultancy services, adopting a client-focussed approach to ensure that your organisation remains fully compliant with its ‘duty to manage’. SOCOTEC also provides Asbestos Awareness e-learning training, which is available to purchase via our online Shop.
For further information on how SOCOTEC can support your rail organisation, click here or get in touch.
Add new comment