ASBESTOS SURVEYS & INVENTORIES
Asbestos surveys and inventories identify asbestos-containing materials in buildings and plant. Every employer whose premises may contain asbestos must have these materials identified by a competent person. The national asbestos ban was published on 28 March 2008. Unless a building's construction started at least three years later, assume it may contain asbestos until a competent person has checked it.
Qualitas Occupational Consulting is a Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Approved Inspection Authority (AIA) for asbestos. We inspect your buildings and identify every suspect material. Then we compile the asbestos inventory and risk assessment that the Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 2020 require. Because we are an AIA, they need no separate six-yearly AIA endorsement.
WHY ASBESTOS IS A RISK
Exposure to asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and other serious, irreversible respiratory diseases. There is no known safe level of exposure. Fibres are released when material deteriorates or is disturbed, for example by drilling, cutting, sanding or cleaning.
For the business, unidentified asbestos can stop building work. Demolition may not start until asbestos-containing material has been identified in the inventory and safely removed or otherwise controlled. In a renovation, stripping out ceilings, walls or roofs can count as demolition. If the premises are sold, the inventory must go to the new owner.
The Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 2020 are made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (OHS Act). For buildings and plant that may contain asbestos, they require:
• Asbestos inventory (regulation 4): by a competent person, reviewed at least every 24 months. Revise it sooner if materials are found, removed or damaged.
• Asbestos risk assessment (regulation 5(1)): by a competent person, immediately once asbestos is identified, then at least every 24 months.
• AIA endorsement (regulation 5(7)): an approved inspection authority must review and endorse both documents at least every six years. This is not required where an AIA did that work.
• Type 2 and type 3 asbestos work: an AIA must monitor the air during the work (regulations 13 and 16). An AIA also carries out the clearance inspection afterwards (regulation 22).
Review your occupational health risk assessment under section 8(2)(d) of the OHS Act alongside these.
THE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT REGULATIONS, 2020
HOW WE CONDUCT AN ASBESTOS SURVEY
Christo de Wet leads every asbestos survey. He is an occupational hygienist registered with the Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH), ROH 0953, with 15 years of experience. Qualitas is a DEL Approved Inspection Authority for asbestos (AIA registration OH0253 - CI 072) and a SANAS-accredited ISO/IEC 17020 inspection body (OH0253).
Before the visit, we ask for building plans, construction dates, previous asbestos reports and the scope of any planned building work.
On site, we inspect every building in scope, including roofs, ceilings, floors, plant rooms and services, and photograph each suspect material. A suspect material is treated as asbestos-containing, as the regulations allow, unless a sample is analysed by a competent laboratory. Inaccessible areas likely to contain asbestos are assumed to contain it.
Afterwards, we compile the inventory, with every item located on a floor plan. We then complete the risk assessment, which decides whether each item is kept in place, repaired or removed. Where asbestos is present, we can also prepare your asbestos management plan. Where no asbestos is found, we confirm this in writing.
- • An asbestos inventory, with each material located on a floor plan and photographed
• The description, quantity and condition of each asbestos-containing material
• The date each material was identified and whether it is labelled
• A risk categorisation for each item, with a decision to keep, repair or remove it
• Likely exposure scenarios, so maintenance staff and contractors know what not to disturb
• Recommendations for labelling, management and any removal, in order of priority
• Written confirmation where no asbestos is found
What affects the quote: time on site and travel. Time on site depends on the size of the site and the number of buildings to cover. The quotation lists each service as its own line item.
WHAT YOUR ASBESTOS REPORT INCLUDES
- How often must an asbestos inventory be reviewed?
At least every 24 months, by a competent person, and sooner if asbestos is found, removed or damaged. The asbestos risk assessment is repeated at least every 24 months too. An AIA must review and endorse both at least every six years, unless an AIA did the work. If someone else compiled your inventory, we can do the 24-month review or the AIA endorsement under regulation 5(7). Our free Compliance Gap Assessment shows which of your assessments are overdue.
Can you tell if a material contains asbestos by looking at it?
No. Textured plasters, paints and vinyl floor tiles may contain fibres too fine to see, even with a magnifying glass. The regulations require a suspect material to be treated as asbestos-containing, or sampled and analysed by a competent laboratory.
What must we prepare for the survey?
Building plans, the dates construction started, access to all areas including roofs, ceilings and plant rooms, and any previous asbestos reports. If renovation is planned, send the scope of works so the inventory covers it in enough detail.
What is needed before asbestos is removed?
All asbestos work must be notified to DEL in writing at least seven days before it starts. Type 2 and type 3 work also needs a contractor registered for that type and an AIA appointed in writing. The AIA monitors the air during the work and carries out the clearance inspection when it is done. We take these AIA appointments for type 2 and type 3 work, covering the plan of work, air monitoring and clearance.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Free online tool: Compliance Gap Assessment. See what is due at your workplace
Occupational hygiene for construction, demolition and property
Occupational hygiene for manufacturing, engineering and foundries
Asbestos inventory: the 24-month review and the 6-year AIA endorsement
What must an asbestos risk assessment cover?
Where is asbestos found in South African buildings?
Renovating an older building? Check for asbestos first
FREE TOOL AND ARTICLES
REQUEST A QUOTE
Request an obligation-free quotation with the site address, the number and age of the buildings, and any previous asbestos reports. We are a B-BBEE Level 2 contributor working in all nine provinces, and travel from Pretoria is quoted upfront.
