The Retail Asbestos Working Group (RAWG) has launched a guidance document that promotes the continuous improvement of asbestos management in the retail sector.
The purpose of the guide which is called ‘The Management of Asbestos Containing Materials in the Retail Sector’ is to promote good-practice and to provide guidance to retailers regarding their duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 and to contractors who work in this sector.
The guidance has been developed by the Retail Asbestos Working Group (RAWG), which was set up and initiated by Silverdell PLC. The group consists of forward-thinking organisations and bodies that operate in the retail sector. These include ASDA, Boots UK, Land Securities, Marks & Spencer, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and two independent Asbestos Consultants Martin Stear and Rob Blackburn who have co-authored the guidance. The RAWG has also benefited from the support of the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The guidance offers an interpretation of how retailers should approach the management of asbestos during trading operations, as well as during maintenance and building works.
The asbestos challenge
Asbestos is still a problem in the UK with over 4000 people still being affected every year by past exposure to asbestos fibres. It is essential that retailers manage asbestos effectively and ensure that any major refurbishment work is allocated sufficient time and space for the safe removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Retail Industry
This guidance has been prepared by the retail industry to provide clarity about managing asbestos and about removing or working with ACMs in trading stores and shops. It outlines the steps that should be taken by clients, employers and others in the construction sector such as principal contractors, licensed asbestos removal contractors and other sub-contractors, who have a duty to ensure that asbestos is removed or worked on safely.
Michelle Irving from the BRC comments:
“The BRC welcomes this new initiative to help our members and other retailers. While the retail sector isn’t alone in facing day-to-day challenges managing asbestos-containing materials, this guidance directly tackles the specific challenges retailers face, and provides up-to-date and practical advice. It will help retailers comply with the law and is useful to everyone in the sector, large or small.”
The Guidance ‘The Management of Asbestos Containing Materials in the Retail Sector’ can be downloaded from the BRC website here http://www.brc.org.uk/asbestos-guidance
ENDS.
Notes:
What is the Retail Asbestos Working Group (RAWG)?
The RAWG is made up of a small group of health and safety professionals whose organisations are committed to the continuous improvement of asbestos management in retail and who want to help the retail industry to raise awareness and improve standards.
Who is the guidance for?
The guidance is targeted at the whole of the retail sector and considers issues such as conducting asbestos surveys and working on asbestos within the retail environment. It is likely that the guide will be of greater value to larger retailers as their premises will generally be more complex and contain a wider range of ACMs. However, it is anticipated that all retailers will find value in using and referring to the guide. It is written to assist those acting as dutyholders with the responsibility for managing asbestos. However, it will also be relevant to main contractors, subcontractors, maintenance contractors and specialist trades who work in the retail sector and who have to cooperate with the dutyholder and others to ensure ACMs are effectively managed. Others who may find this guide useful include designers and planners; CDMCs (Construction Design Management Coordinators); health and safety advisors; those organisations that own and / or operate shopping malls, as well as asbestos consultants and contractors.
This guide is aimed at those premises that contain asbestos. This principally means those premises constructed prior to January 2000 – use of all forms of asbestos were banned in November 1999.
How to use this guidance
This guidance is split into 10 sections. Section 2 describes an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) and how to go about preparing one. The AMP sets out how asbestos is managed in retail premises.. The key areas of the AMP are expanded upon within later sections – see the figure above, which also acts as your roadmap to this guidance. The diagram is in various shades of grey and each section is similarly coded so that you can quickly find the relevant section in this guide. Each section of this document has a summary at the start listing the main issues that are covered within it to help you find information quickly.
Where is asbestos in retail?
Retail sector buildings may contain ACMs in a wide range of applications and locations as with any other premises. The applications can include ceiling tiles, wall panels, fire breaks, insulation and many other situations.
Acknowledgements
Martin Stear …………..(Chartered Occupational Hygienist) – co-author
Rob Blackburn ………..(Asbestos Consultant) – co-author
Lucy Czakan ……………(Silverdell PLC)
Liz Davidson ……………(Boots)
Steve Hanson ………….(Callidus Consultants on behalf of Marks & Spencer)
Clive Johnson ………….(Land Securities)
Neil Sheehan ………….(ASDA)
Chris Venables ………..(Tesco)
RAWG acknowledges the support of Asbestos Control and Abatement Division (ACAD), Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA), Asbestos Testing and Consultancy (ATAC), British Retail Consortium (BRC), British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) and HSE who kindly reviewed this guidance.
Further information
Media Interviews with key personnel can be arranged through our PR agency:
Nicky Frost, Account Director SMPR (Simply Marcomms Limited)
nicky@simplymarcomms.co.uk
0870 199 4044
For further information about the RAWG contact Lucy Czakan on info@rawg.org.uk
For further technical information about the guidance document contact Martin Stear on info@rawg.org.uk
+ comments + 1 comments
Great, Thanks for sharing
Asbestos Consulting
Post a Comment