Configuring an asbestos assessment
Materials containing asbestos were widely used within the construction industry for new and refurbished buildings until 1999. In that year they were banned, due to health and safety regulations. Asbestos does not impose a risk when left undisturbed. However, if it is disturbed and inhaled it can cause serious lung diseases.
For asbestos assessments, the UK government provides the HSG264 form, with a set of factors, based on materials and priorities. The condition of the material containing asbestos is assessed via a score on these factors. The asbestos factors can be registered in the Hazard registry TSI on the Hazard logs selection step.
Asbestos assessments are used in cases where the assessment method of the Hazard type is set to Asbestos (HSG264). The risk score is read-only and calculated based on the values in 13 fields.
The following calculation factors are available:
Material assessment
Four factors determine how dangerous the material is. The Material assessment score is the sum of the scores of these four factors with a maximum score of 12.
• Product type - the asbestos material type used. Examples: Asbestos reinforced composites, Asbestos insulating board, Thermal insulation.
• Extent of damage/deterioration - describes the degree of damage or aging of the asbestos containing material. Examples: Good condition, Low damage, Medium damage.
• Surface type/treatment - describes how the material is applied. Examples: Composite materials containing asbestos, Unsealed asbestos insulating board.
• Asbestos type - the chemical structure of the asbestos. Examples: White (Chrysotile), Brown (Amphibole asbestos excluding crocidolite), Blue (Crocidolite).
Priority assessment
Nine factors in four categories determine the risks to daily operations. The score of Priority assessment is the sum of the four average scores, with a maximum score of 12. The four categories are:
• Normal occupant activity score,
• Likelihood of disturbance score,
• Human exposure potential,
• Maintenance activity score.
The scores are calculated as follows:
Normal occupant activity score - total score of the Activity factor, with a maximum score of 3:
• Activity - describes the normal occupant activity (how often a space is used). Examples: Rare, Low, Periodic.
Likelihood of disturbance score - the average score of the following factors with a maximum score of 3:
• Location - the location where the asbestos is identified. Examples: Outdoor, Warehouse, confined area.
• Accessibility - how easy is it to disturb the asbestos. Examples: Routinely disturbed, Easily disturbed, Usually inaccessible.
• Extent of range - what is the amount or surface. Examples: Less than 10 sq metres, 10 to 50 sq metres area, More than 50 sq metres.
Human exposure potential - the average score of the following factors with a maximum score of 3:
• Number of occupants - the number of people usually accessing the location. Examples: 1 to 3, More than 10.
• Frequency of use of area - how often is the location used. Examples: Daily, Weekly, Infrequent.
• Average time area is in use - the average time of occupancy of the location. Examples: Less than 1 hour, 3 to less than 6 hours, More than 6 hours.
Maintenance activity score - the average score of the following factors with a maximum score of 3:
• Maintenance type - what is the disturbance when maintenances activities are performed. Examples: Minor disturbance, Medium disturbance, High level disturbance.
• Maintenance frequency - how often will a maintenance activity performed. Examples: Unlikely, Less than once a year, Less than once a month.
The Total score of the asbestos assessment is the sum of the following scores with a maximum score of 24:
• Material assessment score
• Priority assessment score
 | The following applies to all average scores: if an average score contains decimals, these will be rounded, according to the rounding method that is selected in the Hazard logs business object settings in Field definer . The default rounding method is Round up, but you can also select Round down or Round to nearest. |
| | For information on various rounding methods in calculations of the Priority score, see Field definer > Setting for the Hazard Logs - Asbestos assessments business object. |