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According to the asbestos law, it is a legal requirement and a duty for occupiers and owners of non domestic buildings to manage asbestos properly. For this purpose, they have to conduct asbestos surveys.

An asbestos lawyerasbestos survey has to conducted under the supervision of an asbestos cancer lawyer or a mesothelioma attorney. The survey has to be carried out before the demolition or renovation of a building. It is a written report that describes an inspection that was performed using the procedures as laid down by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Regulations.

This information is then used to update the asbestos register. It forms the basis of a detailed asbestos management plan. The plan outlines how to manage and monitor the Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM’s) that may be present within the state or particular premises.

The body that is responsible for enforcing compliance with the stiff penalties and regulations is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This body awards penalty to all those who fail to ensure the safety of their staff and those present on the site.

The HSE has set out requirements that refer to non domestic properties. Surveys are conducted by dwellers, maintenance workers, builders and the insurance industry in the non domestic property. However, ACM’s are also present in domestic properties as well.

Therefore, there are surveys that have to be performed in the domestic areas as well. There are three types of surveys. Let’s understand each type briefly.

The first survey type is the Location and assessment survey. This is a presumptive survey. It’s purpose is to locate the presence and extent of any material in the building that is suspected to contain asbestos. This is to assess its’ condition. This is done by a visual inspection of the erection which helps in the identification of asbestos containing materials. This survey defers the need to sample and analyze for asbestos for a long time period.

The second type of survey is the Standard Sampling, Identification and Assessment Survey. Similar procedures and purpose that are used in the Location and assessment survey are practiced for this survey as well. The only difference is that representative samples are collected for analysis for the presence of asbestos, rather than just a visual inspection. The samples thus found are then collected and analyzed to confirm the presence of asbestos.

The third type of survey is the Full Access Sampling and Identification Survey. This survey is used to locate and describe all the ACM’s in a building. It may even involve destructive inspection. Such an inspection may be necessary. It would help to gain an access to all the areas that may be otherwise difficult to reach. A program of full sampling is undertaken. This is done to identify the possible ACM’s. Estimates of the volume and surface area of ACM’s is also conducted under this survey.

Therefore, to avoid asbestos lawsuits or a case under the mesothelioma legal procedure, organizations must take measures. The best measure is to conduct an asbestos surveys, because prevention is always better than cure.