To approve the ISSUE of a licence for work with asbestos to TFM Facilities Management Limited
SUMMARY
An application for a licence under Regulation 3 of the Asbestos–Licensing (Jersey) Regulations, 2008 (Asbestos Regulations), has been received from TFM Facilities Management Limited.
As a new applicant, TFM Facilities Management Limited has undergone a formal assessment of its management arrangements and asbestos competencies by the Health and Safety Inspectorate, and been able to demonstrate appropriate systems are in place.
The Minister is therefore requested to consider issuing a one year licence under the Asbestos Regulations, to TFM Facilities Management Limited, for work with licensed asbestos materials.
BACKGROUND
Asbestos is a class 1 carcinogen, and exposure to airborne asbestos fibres can lead to a range of diseases including fatal lung cancers.
As a result of concerns over potential exposure to asbestos in the workplace, the States introduced Regulations in 1997 which restrict work with certain asbestos- containing materials to those who are licensed. The original 1997 Regulations were replaced by the Asbestos Regulations, which came into force on 5 February 2008.
Regulation 3 of the Asbestos Regulations provides for the Minister to issue licences for work with asbestos insulation, asbestos insulation board and asbestos coatings, and permits the Minister to determine the period of the licence and attach such terms and conditions to the licence that the Minister considers appropriate.
TFM Facilities Management Limited, a new company set up specifically to undertake work with asbestos-containing materials, has applied for a licence under Regulation 3.
The process for licence application and 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 and industry best practice. The policy also states that new applicants be granted a one year licence.
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 TFM Facilities Management Limited be granted a licence, subject to the five standard conditions, to carry out work with asbestos for a 1 year period, commencing on 1 January 2019.
Tammy Fage
Director of Health and Safety