Asbestos Management on BBC premises

What Can Go Wrong?

Asbestos in various forms has been used very widely in many building products, as a reinforcing fibre in many plastics and as an engineering product in applications such as brake linings. Its wide use stems from it being chemically inert, light and strong, and because it is very stable when exposed to heat.

Asbestos, inhaled as dust can cause Lung Disease (Asbestosis), Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma (a cancer associated only with exposure to Asbestos). People who smoke are at greatly increased risk.

Asbestos when incorporated into a solid material (concrete, bitumen, plastic) poses very little risk until that material suffers mechanical damage (being, cut, broken, drilled, sanded, exposed to extreme heat or explosion).

Workplace will decide if Asbestos needs to be removed. Asbestos will not normally be removed unless there is a danger of disturbing it during works or a danger of future disturbance.

Legal / BBC Requirements

• Control measures with the words Must or Must Not are mandatory under BBC rules.
• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

Control Measures

General Controls

• Asbestos in BBC Premises is managed by BBC Workplace, there is a detailed Asbestos Management Strategy that must be adhered to. You must employ the controls below
• Report any suspected damage and / or any suspicious material which is not labelled to BBC Workplace Service Centre: Tel 0490 (internal); 0808 1688 962 (external).
• Contact BBC Workplace Service Centre before conducting any work (building, fitting out, cable pulling, etc) on the fabric of the building. They will contact a specialist who will tell you if you need to have a survey carried out.
• Check the Asbestos Register for the building if you are conducting work on the fabric.
• You must not work on Asbestos Containing Material.
• You must not work in any area where fibres are present above the clearance level.
• Call BBC Safety / BBC Occupational Health if you are concerned you may have been exposed to asbestos (see our Contacts page in the top banner). See also our Safety Short "Health Information - Inadvertent Exposure to Asbestos" in Useful Documents.

Managers Controls

• Managers must identify staff who might be at risk, arrange awareness training via Academy
• For buildings where there is not a permanent Facilities Management presence the Manager with day to day responsibility for a building (for example the Managing Editor) must appoint “Appointed Person Asbestos” to hold a copy of the asbestos register for the building and to ensure that precautions are in place.

Emergency Arrangements

If you know or suspect that asbestos containing material has been disturbed the take the following action:

• Move other people away from the vicinity.
• Close doors if possible. 
• Tell your manager. 
• Contact BBC Workplace Service Centre: Tel 0490 (internal); 0808 1688 962 (external).
• Email: bbcworkplace.servicecentre@interservefm.com
• Report the incident on myRisks.

Role of Workplace

• Appoints, manages, and monitors service partner to manage asbestos.
• Manages relationship with third party landlords, tenants and occupiers of shared premises.
• Via service partner:
• Holds asbestos register.
• Ensures information is acquired and passed on when buildings are acquired or disposed of.
• Funds all asbestos works.
• Manages incidents.

Role of BBC Safety

• Advises on the investigation of incidents.
• Keeps records of incidents.
• Provides general advice.