Asbestos Risk Assessment

As recommended by the HSE, when an inspection or survey is undertaken for each of known ACMs or presumed ACMs, an asbestos risk assessment is carried out to assist in deciding on appropriate action and formulating a management plan. The risk assessments are carried out in two parts: the first is a material assessment which assesses the condition of the material and the likelihood of it releasing fibres if disturbed; the second part is a priority assessment which takes into account maintenance activities, likelihood of disturbance, human exposure potential, occupant activity or visitors. Algorithms are used to score each item which results in an overall risk assessment score

Asbestos Material Assessment Algorithm

Each parameter is given a score; the value assigned is totaled to give a score of between 2 and 12. Materials, which achieve scores of ten or more, are regarded as having a high potential to release fibres, if disturbed. Scores of between 7 and 9 are regarded as having a medium potential, and those between 5 and 6 are regarded as having a low potential. Materials with a score of fewer than 4 have a very low potential of fiber release.

It does not automatically follow that those materials assigned the highest score in the material assessment will be the materials that should be given priority for remedial action.

Asbestos Priority Assessment

The management priority must be determined by carrying out a risk assessment, which
is able to take into account factors such as:

The location of the material

Its extent

The use to which the location is put

The occupancy of the area

The activities carried out in the area

Maintenance activities and frequency

Again scores are awarded in the same way as the material assessment.