CSCS Asbestos Awareness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the current UK workplace exposure limit (WEL) for asbestos as stated in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?
- 1 fibre per millilitre of air
- 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre of air, averaged over a continuous 4-hour period (Correct answer)
- 10 fibres per cubic centimetre of air
- There is no specific exposure limit for asbestos
Correct answer: 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre of air, averaged over a continuous 4-hour period
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 set the workplace exposure limit for all types of asbestos at 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre of air (0.1 f/cm3), averaged over a continuous 4-hour period. This is a single control limit that applies to all three asbestos fibre types. However, there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos — the WEL represents the maximum permitted, not a safe level.
Question 2: What is the difference between licensed, notifiable non-licensed, and non-licensed asbestos work under UK regulations?
- There is only one category of asbestos work in the UK
- Licensed work involves high-risk activities (sprayed coatings, lagging, high-risk removal) requiring an HSE licence; notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) is lower risk but must be notified to the enforcing authority; non-licensed work involves very low-risk tasks with minimal fibre release (Correct answer)
- The categories only relate to the age of the building
- Licensed work is for commercial buildings and non-licensed for domestic
Correct answer: Licensed work involves high-risk activities (sprayed coatings, lagging, high-risk removal) requiring an HSE licence; notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) is lower risk but must be notified to the enforcing authority; non-licensed work involves very low-risk tasks with minimal fibre release
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 define three categories: licensed work (highest risk — removal of asbestos insulation, lagging, sprayed coatings, and any work where exposure cannot be reduced below the WEL) requires an HSE licence; NNLW (moderate risk — short-duration work on certain ACMs) must be notified; non-licensed work (lowest risk — minor work with intact, non-friable materials) has minimal requirements but still needs controls.
Question 3: In which common building materials might asbestos be found on a pre-2000 UK construction site?
- Only in roof tiles
- Ceiling tiles, floor tiles, insulation board, pipe lagging, textured coatings (Artex), cement roofing sheets, fire blankets, gaskets, and brake linings (Correct answer)
- Asbestos was only ever used in industrial buildings, not houses
- Only in boiler rooms
Correct answer: Ceiling tiles, floor tiles, insulation board, pipe lagging, textured coatings (Artex), cement roofing sheets, fire blankets, gaskets, and brake linings
Asbestos was used in over 3,000 building products in the UK before the full ban in 1999. Common locations include: cement roofing/wall sheets, ceiling tiles, vinyl floor tiles, insulation boards (AIB), pipe and boiler lagging, textured decorative coatings (e.g., Artex), fire blankets, gaskets, and fuse box linings. Any building constructed or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos.
Question 4: What diseases can be caused by exposure to asbestos fibres?
- Only skin rashes
- Mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs), and diffuse pleural thickening (Correct answer)
- Only temporary coughing
- Asbestos is now known to be harmless
Correct answer: Mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs), and diffuse pleural thickening
Asbestos exposure can cause four main diseases: mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura or peritoneum, always fatal), asbestos-related lung cancer (greatly increased risk, especially in smokers), asbestosis (progressive fibrosis/scarring of the lungs), and diffuse pleural thickening (thickening of the lung lining causing breathlessness). Over 5,000 people die each year in the UK from asbestos-related diseases.
Question 5: What records must an employer keep regarding employees who work with asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?
- No records are required for asbestos work
- A health record for each employee exposed to asbestos, including the type of work, duration, and level of exposure, which must be kept for at least 40 years (Correct answer)
- Records are only required if an employee becomes ill
- Only the employee's CSCS card number
Correct answer: A health record for each employee exposed to asbestos, including the type of work, duration, and level of exposure, which must be kept for at least 40 years
Regulation 22 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires employers to maintain a health record for every employee who is exposed to asbestos. This must include details of the work carried out, duration of exposure, and exposure levels. These records must be kept for at least 40 years from the last entry, reflecting the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases.
Question 6: What does the term 'friable' mean in relation to asbestos-containing materials?
- The material is safe and fully bonded
- The material can be easily crumbled, pulverised, or reduced to powder by hand pressure, making it highly likely to release dangerous fibres into the air (Correct answer)
- The material is fire-resistant
- The material has been treated and is no longer hazardous
Correct answer: The material can be easily crumbled, pulverised, or reduced to powder by hand pressure, making it highly likely to release dangerous fibres into the air
Friable asbestos-containing material can be easily crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure. This makes it extremely dangerous as fibres can be readily released into the air and inhaled. Examples include sprayed asbestos coatings and damaged pipe lagging. Friable ACMs are the highest priority for management or removal under the duty to manage in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
CSCS Asbestos Awareness 2
What is the current UK workplace exposure limit (WEL) for asbestos as stated in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?