How can you ensure customer safety in relation to asbestos removal in UK retail spaces?

Retail spaces operate for long hours most days of the week, with a lot of employees and customers coming in and out of the building. If you have damaged asbestos materials in your retail store, you could be putting everyone’s health at risk.

It can be particularly challenging to manage asbestos in commercial buildings that get a lot of foot traffic. On top of that, closing a retail shop for even a day or two can result in financial loss that’s hard to recover from.

In this article, we’ll cover what you should know about asbestos removal in commercial spaces so that contractors, your employees and the public stay safe.

Why is asbestos a concern in retail spaces?

Asbestos was frequently used in construction in the 20th century due to its insulation and fireproofing characteristics. Additionally, asbestos was inexpensive and widely available, which only added to its appeal.

Asbestos in retail locations in the UK

In the UK, asbestos was heavily used in construction between the 1950s and 1980s. During this time, a high number retail parks, shopping centres, and other retail spaces were built.

Common locations of asbestos in retail environments include:

• Asbestos insulating board (AIB)
• Ceiling tiles and secondary ceilings
• Electrical components
• Sprayed coatings on steelwork or behind signage
• Thermal pipe insulation
• Vinyl floor tiles

AIB specifically can be found in all sorts of areas in a retail building, including escalators and lifts.

Inhaling or ingesting asbestos, which you can do without realising it once asbestos fibres are airborne, can result in fatal diseases, including mesothelioma and other cancers.

What are the legal requirements for asbestos management in retail spaces?

Once the life-threatening health impacts of asbestos were understood, the UK banned its use in 1999. However, with so many retail spaces built before 2000, it’s common for asbestos to still be present in those buildings today.

Currently, there are strict and specific asbestos regulations that need to be followed in commercial buildings, including retail spaces. The Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 lays out the laws for safe, responsible asbestos management in the commercial sector. That includes following proper safety measures, such as:

• Setting up containment units to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres
• Using negative air pressure systems to ensure worker safety
• Having workers wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
• Double-bagging waste and disposing of it properly to prevent asbestos exposure or contamination

If you’re the dutyholder of a retail building, you have a “clear responsibility for the building’s maintenance and repair,” according to the Health and Safety Executive. That means that you’re responsible for asbestos management on the premises, which may include coordinating removal projects.

What are the unique challenges of asbestos removal in retail spaces?

Many of the challenges that arise when removing asbestos from a retail building are the same challenges faced in any commercial building. However, these are the specific ways that retail buildings are uniquely complex.

Retail operations may be disrupted

Retail spaces are often open to the public for several hours every day of the week. Closing the shop could result in a loss of income for the store owner, but keeping it open during the asbestos removal work could put visitors and employees in danger.

The dutyholder and the asbestos removal team will need to come up with a plan for carrying out the work in a way that causes minor disruption to the shop’s operations while also keeping the public safe. That may mean performing the work when the store is closed or sealing off one area at a time so the rest of the shop can stay active.

The rest of the building may be occupied

Many stores share a building or space with other shops, and it’s not reasonable to ask other store owners to shut down operations so your project can take place. However, if asbestos fibres contaminate other parts of the building, those store owners and their customers could be exposed.

Coordinating with other occupants of the building is important to ensure everyone knows what’s planned and how to keep themselves protected. The removal team will need to isolate the work area and also set up washing facilities and transit routes for removing asbestos waste.

Failing to keep occupants safe can result in fines

In certain cases, it may not be possible to have the store operate during asbestos removal. Considering the major financial impact this could have on store owners, though, it can be tempting to keep the shop open despite the risk of exposure.

While this allows you to continue making sales during this time, it’s possible that you’ll face a hefty fine for failing to comply with legal regulations. Additionally, any quality asbestos removal team won’t agree to do work under circumstances that could endanger others.

How can you identify asbestos in retail spaces before starting work?

According to the HSE, in order to meet their duty-to-manage obligation, the dutyholder may need to hire an asbestos surveyor. The surveyor will find the asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on the property, identify them, and assess their condition. The survey is then used to create an asbestos management plan based on its findings.

There are two main types of asbestos surveys — a management survey and a refurbishment and demolition survey. Here’s an overview of each type.

Asbestos management survey

This is the simplest type of asbestos survey, and its general use is to help the dutyholder manage the ACMs on the property.

The management survey makes the dutyholder aware of where asbestos is located and its condition so it can be regularly monitored.

Typically, this type of survey is only a visual inspection. Even if sampling and intrusive work are needed, it’s usually minor and won’t cause much of a disruption to normal commercial operations or the safety of those on the property.

Asbestos refurbishment and demolition survey

A refurbishment and demolition survey is conducted when a major construction project is planned and ACMs are likely to be damaged while the work takes place.

This type of survey is much more detailed compared to a management survey. Extensive samples have to be taken, making this type of survey very intrusive and requiring parts of the building to be vacated.

What should I expect when hiring an asbestos surveyor?

During an asbestos survey, the surveyor will begin by walking through the premises to assess the site. Next, the surveyor will specifically look for ACMs in a methodical way. Every part of the building will be inspected so that no ACMs are missed.

The surveyor will record any ACMs or suspected ACMs found, noting their location, condition and any other details that are important. Additionally, samples will be taken to be analysed in a laboratory.

Asbestos surveyors are not legally required to be accredited. However, the HSE recommends hiring a surveyor with United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation to standard BS EN ISO/IEC 17020.

What should be included in an asbestos management plan for retail spaces?

An asbestos management plan is required prior to a removal project. The plan will detail how the ACMs should be managed. That includes clarifying which ACMs don’t pose a danger and can be encapsulated or left alone versus those that need to be removed.

The asbestos management plan for your retail space should include the following:

• The name and contact info of the dutyholder
• The building’s asbestos register, which shows the location of the ACMs and any areas that weren’t inspected
• A schedule for monitoring the condition of the asbestos materials
• Specific plans for sharing the asbestos register with contractors or workers
• Arrangements that protect ACMs from being disturbed
• Emergency procedures in case of asbestos exposure

Since every retail building has its own circumstances related to asbestos, the asbestos management plan will be customised to your specific location.

How to choose the right asbestos removal professionals?

Asbestos removal work should only be done by qualified asbestos professionals. There are three main categories of asbestos work, and you’ll want to hire a professional or team with the proper credentials:

• Licensed work
• Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)
• Non-licensed work

Since many retail spaces have AIB and spray coatings that contain asbestos, it’s likely you’ll need licensed removal work done. In that case, you’ll need to find asbestos workers with the correct, up-to-date licensing.

Final thoughts

The critical steps that must be followed to ensure everyone’s safety during asbestos removal include:

• Having a thorough survey conducted
• Writing an asbestos management plan
• Carefully planning for the removal work with a focus on health and safety
• Proper cleanup of the work site
• Regular monitoring of the ACMs to note any changes in their condition
• Clear communication with employees about the asbestos situation on the premises

It’s important to hire asbestos professionals with the experience and licensing required to comply with legal regulations and best practices.

To speak with an asbestos expert today, contact Oracle Solutions.