The general rule of thumb is that asbestos-containing materials (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 resistance 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 piston cylinders, asbestos in its varying forms has also been discovered in such materials as skirting within seating partitions (chrysotile – white asbestos); paste under locomotive frames and insulating boards (amosite – brown asbestos); and sprayed fibres on the sides, roofs, ends and floors of rail vehicles (crocidolite – blue asbestos).
Where a material or component is suspected of containing asbestos, the item must be treated as an ACM until proven otherwise. This will then be identified by a qualified person, with sampling and analysis providing a definitive answer. Some components are identified as being asbestos-free by stamping or having two ‘V’ notches cut into the material.
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:
● Immediately cease activity and evacuate all employees working in the area
● Secure the area and restrict access using appropriate measures
● Report the suspected or known ACM to site/line manager
● Await confirmation that no asbestos is present before resuming work. If confirmed, the ACM should be sealed and labelled or, where necessary, removed.
LEGALITIES
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. In order to comply with CAR 2012, duty holders must:
● Locate ACMs throughout the premises/on rolling stock and assess the risk posed to health
● Keep accurate, up-to-date records about the location/s of ACMs
● Ensure that anyone who might disturb asbestos is aware of its location and condition
● Develop a risk management plan and update regularly.
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.
Finally, the Waste Classification WM3 guidance 2015 provides best practice when controlling waste that is suspected to contain asbestos. To meet the guidelines, 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.
Socotec’s asbestos team offers management and consultancy services, and asbestos awareness e-learning training via www.is.gd/xefobu.