To approve the renewal of a licence for the removal of asbestos to CAC Environmental Services Ltd
1. SUMMARY
The Minister is asked to consider renewing the licence, granted under the Asbestos (Licensing) (Jersey) Regulations, 1997, to CAC Environmental Services Ltd for the removal of certain asbestos containing materials.
- BACKGROUND
Exposure by individuals to asbestos fibres is acknowledged as giving rise to the risk of developing a range of diseases including lung disease and cancer.
As a result of concerns over potential exposure to asbestos in the workplace, the States introduced the Asbestos (Licensing) (Jersey) Regulations, 1997, which restrict certain work on asbestos containing materials to those who are licensed. Regulation 2 provides for the Minister to issue licences under the Regulations, with Regulation 3 permitting the Minister to determine the period of the licence and attach such conditions to the licence which it considers are appropriate.
CAC Environmental Services Ltd has applied for the renewal of the licence, to work with asbestos, which expires on the 2nd November, 2007. Under the current licence, which was issued by the Employment and Social Security Committee in 2004, CAC Environmental Services Ltd. has notified the Health and Safety Inspectorate of over 140 removal contracts. The Inspectorate is not aware of any difficulties arising from any of these contracts.
The process for licence renewal is carried out in accordance with the policy set out in the Health and Safety Inspectorate document, Asbestos Licence Assessment Guide, which assesses the applicant against benchmarks drawn from legal standards, good practice as described in the Jersey and UK Approved codes, industry best practice and the licence applicant’s own operating standards. This assessment has identified that CAC Environmental Services Ltd is working to appropriate standards.
Five standard conditions are placed on all licences which are issued. These conditions require the licence to be made available for inspection, the Inspectorate to be notified of the work, the preparation of a detailed method statement for the work, the need to ensure that all work is supervised by an appropriate member of staff and that the asbestos waste is disposed of in an approved manner.
- RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that CAC Environmental Services Ltd. be granted a licence, subject to the five standard conditions, for carrying out work with asbestos for a further three year period, commencing the 3rd November 2007.
Colin Myers
Director of Health and Safety
Social Security: 25th October 2007
File No. 3/16
Colin Myers