Licensed Asbestos Operative Refresher Training

Course Prerequisites

The aim of refresher training is to identify good and bad practice and to ensure that the good practice is shared and that bad practices are stopped. Training Needs Analysis will help to make the annual courses more relevant to delegates. Refresher training should aim to achieve the following objectives:

• fulfil identified training needs;
• impart new information, eg changes in legislation and work practices (such as use of new equipment or wetting techniques);
• remind employees of the risks they face working with asbestos;
• reinforce procedures such as the use of hygiene facilities, use and maintenance of RPE and how to use controlled removal techniques;
• share good practice and eliminate bad practice.

This unit has eighteen learning outcomes.

Learning outcome 1

The learner should be able to:

Recognise the types, uses and risks of asbestos containing materials

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe the types of asbestos fibres including characteristics, uses, identification methods, nature and levels of risk for different groups of asbestos containing materials
2. Outline history of import, manufacture and installation of different asbestos containing materials
3. Explain the types of products that may contain asbestos and their likely locations
4. Describe previous treatment methods covering old asbestos applications
5. Describe asbestos containing materials friability, the conditions when they will release fibres and the need for control
6. Outline the risks of emergency and remedial work

Learning outcome 2

The learner should be able to:

Recognise the health hazards of asbestos

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe how fibres cause disease
2. Explain the types of asbestos-related diseases and how related to exposure
3. Explain the requirements for medicals under CAR
4. Describe the need for dust / fibre suppression to control exposure
5. Explain the need for correct use / maintenance of RPE
6. Describe the health effects of smoking and risks of taking home asbestos-contaminated equipment / clothing

Learning outcome 3

The learner should be able to:

Demonstrate a knowledge of Asbestos Related Legislation

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe the duties of the individual
2. Identify the key duties of the employer
3. Outline the licensing framework
4. Describe the control of exposure
5. Outline the Control of Asbestos Regulations
6. Outline the requirements of the ACOP and associated guidance
7. Outline the  Waste Regulations and Environmental Protection Act

Learning outcome 4

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of site set up, maintenance and dismantling

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Explain the requirements for Site Set Up to include:
   1. escribe the need for pre-cleaning and the use of H-type vacuum cleaners
   2. Outline site layout including the citing of hygiene unit as close to enclosure as possible
   3. Describe the optimal positioning of air / baglocks and negative pressure unit and an explanation of how they work and the significance of the voltmeter and pressure gauges and what changes in the gauge readings mean
   4. Identify when pre-filters should be changed
   5. Outline the strategy for calculating air changes
   6. Describe the connection and testing of hygiene unit
   7. Describe the construction of enclosures, air / baglocks including possible weather protection
   8. Explain the positioning of clear viewing panels
   9. Explain the positioning and wording for warning notices and barriers
   10. Describe how to delineate work areas and transit routes
   11. Explain smoke testing and need for witnessing
2. Explain the requirements for Site Maintenance:
   1. Explain the need for daily inspections of enclosure (start, middle and end of shift) and immediate rectification of defects
   2. Explain the strategy for negative pressure units to be kept running after stripping finishes for the day
3. Explain the requirements for Site Dismantling:
   1. Describe actions once clearance achieved, spraying enclosure with sealant, bag and seal vacuum cleaners, bag other equipment, dismantle polythene and dispose of as asbestos waste
   2. Describe the final inspection of area once enclosure and all associated equipment have been removed

Learning outcome 5

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of controlled stripping techniques

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe the principles of fibre suppression and control of exposure
2. Explain the use, maintenance and cleaning of equipment
3. Explain the use of wet injection and spraying techniques
4. Explain the use of wrap and ­cut
5. Explain the use of glove bags
6. Explain the use of direct vacuuming
7. Explain the use of LEV (shadow vacuuming)
8. Explain the use of vacuum transfer
9. Explain the use of air management
10. Describe preparation time and testing of controls before removal
11. Describe wetting agent selection, preparation and use
12. Outline COSHH requirements
13. Explain anticipated and desired fibre levels and comparison with RPE maximum exposure levels
14. Describe personal assessment monitoring (principles) and access to personal assessment information

Learning outcome 6

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of respiratory protective equipment

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe the circumstances when respiratory protective equipment must be worn
2. Explain how to inspect, test and wear respirator
3. Describe the need for quantitative face-fit test, a good face seal and the need to be clean shaven
4. Explain correct storage, battery charging and keeping clean
5. Explain the strategy for changing pre-filters and main filters

Learning outcome 7

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of personal protective equipment and clothing

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe the use of the appropriate personal protective equipment including: overalls, headgear, footwear and gloves
2. State the employer requirements to provide appropriate personal protective equipment and employees’ obligations to use it
3. Explain the requirement for care, wearing, cleaning, decontamination and / or disposal of personal protective equipment and not taking contaminated personal protective equipment home
4. Explain the use transit overalls;
5. Describe when and where personal protective equipment should be worn
6. Explain the correct use and maintenance of personal protective equipment

Learning outcome 8

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of transit procedures and decontamination

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Explain personal decontamination procedures for directly connected and remote (transit) decontamination units and airlocks including: personal protective equipment changing and disposal, showering, colour coding of coveralls, respiratory protective equipment decontamination, cleaning, charging and storage
2. Explain the use of towels
3. Explain the changing and disposal of pre and main respiratory protective equipment filters
4. Describe decontamination procedures where no enclosure or DCU is required (open sites)
5. Outline common problems with decontamination
6. Describe cleaning of airlocks and DCUs
7. Explain emergency decontamination in case of evacuation or accident
8. State what should be in the DCU

Learning outcome 9

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of cleaning and clearance air testing

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Explain the cleaning and clearance requirements, including the need for the four-stage clearance process and associated certificate of reoccupation
2. Describe visual cleanliness and air testing requirements
3. State the methods of cleaning for enclosures, hygiene facilities and equipment
4. Explain the requirement for re-cleaning in event of air test failure
5. Explain the requirement for cleaning after enclosure dismantling
6. Explain the requirement for cleaning in the event of an emergency or enclosure/equipment damage

Learning outcome 10

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of plant and equipment

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe equipment components
2. Explain equipment use and maintenance including: negative pressure units, Type H vacuums and injection equipment

Learning outcome 11

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of waste management and disposal

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Explain the requirements of bagging, sealing and cleaning
2. Explain transportation through baglock and airlock
3. Describe the requirements for storage of asbestos waste
4. Describe the correct loading of skip / van

Learning outcome 12

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements of emergency procedures

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe what to do in the event of major and minor injuries or illnesses occurring inside ‘live’ enclosures
2. Describe what to do in the event of fire, or some other hazardous release such as toxic gas or radioactive dust occurring inside or outside enclosure
3. Describe what to do a if leak of asbestos is found outside the enclosure
4. Describe what to do if power on power-assisted respirator fails while inside a ‘live’ enclosure
5. Describe what to do if the NPUs stop working
6. Describe what to do if there is complete loss of electrical power
7. Describe what to do if loss of water supply to hygiene unit

Learning outcome 13

The learner should be able to:

Recognise potential non-asbestos hazards associated with asbestos removal

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Explain the requirements of site safety procedures
2. Describe permit-to-work systems
3. Explain entry and exit procedures in case of fire
4. Describe the location of possible site hazards
5. Explain emergency procedures in case of fire, electric shock, burns, hazardous substances, solvents etc
6. Describe the care of an injured casualty
7. Identify potential hazards such as manual handling, noise, vibration and falling object protection, slips, trips and falls

Learning outcome 14

The learner should be able to:

Recognise common faults associated with asbestos removal

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Describe how to spot problems with the wetting of asbestos containing materials, respiratory protective equipment, airlocks, enclosures and hygiene unit

Learning outcome 15

The learner should be able to:

Understand the roles and responsibilities within an asbestos removal company

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Explain the requirement of adhering to the principles of their training
2. Explain the requirement to work to the risk assessment and plan of work
3. Describe when work should be halted because it does not match the plan of work
4. Explain the requirement to work safely and not to put others at risk from their acts or omissions
5. Explain the requirement for wearing personal protective equipment and respiratory protective equipment correctly and to report any defects
6. Explain why they should not take short cuts
7. Explain the importance of treating all site visitors with professionalism and respect including information on site based aggression and de-escalation techniques
8. Explain the importance of ensuring that all accidents, incidents, near misses and reports of unsafe situations are reported
9. Explain the importance of the enclosure being ready for inspection by the analyst and the importance of the handover form
10. Explain the responsibilities of contractors with reference to enclosure cleanliness and welfare of visitors to site (including the analyst) etc
11. Understand the obligations of the analyst and how this affects works e.g. the right to issue failed certificates at any stage, the limitations on how much cleaning an analyst is allowed to do, the estimated times for visual inspections etc

Learning outcome 16

The learner should be able to:

Recognise the need for site inspections and record-keeping

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Explain the purpose of site inspections, site auditing and record keeping
2. Describe the role of inspectors / auditors
3. Explain the responsibilities of operatives
4. Explain the requirement of reporting faults and other problems

Learning outcome 17

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirement for management systems and monitoring

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Explain the requirement for the maintenance and monitoring of control measures
2. Describe the requirement for controlling exposure to asbestos
3. Explain the requirement for ensuring that equipment functions correctly
4. Explain the requirement for pre-start setting-up
5. Explain the requirement for barriers and signs
6. Explain the requirement for the construction and testing of enclosures and airlocks
7. Outline the requirements of site monitoring
8. Explain the use / testing of negative pressure equipment and ventilation and air management systems
9. Describe the correct maintenance of all site equipment, following manufacturers’ operating instructions, including the correct maintenance and monitoring of the following control measures: enclosures, external services, negative pressure systems, wet strip units, mobile generators, water supply, heating appliances, personal protective equipment, respiratory protective equipment, any dust suppression equipment, tools and DCUs

Learning outcome 18

The learner should be able to:

Understand the requirements for risk assessments and plans of work

Assessment criteria – The learner can:

1. Outline risk assessments, describing the main points and stating the right to see significant findings
2. Describe the requirements to follow risk assessments and the risks / penalties if they are not followed
3. Explain the meaning of the control limits