Asbestos — from suspicion to waste

Before demolition, repair or maintenance, a pre-survey must establish which materials may contain asbestos. If there is the slightest reason for suspicion, the work is asbestos work. Take material samples for analysis when necessary, and make sure the results are kept at the workplace.

No sample results and the slightest suspicion? Then the asbestos rules apply (§ 10).

Everyone who carries out asbestos work must have asbestos training and a training certificate — including the person who only packs the waste or does the final cleaning. Without an authorisation requirement it is AMU 22906; for demolition requiring authorisation AMU 22907. The employee must have access to a health examination before starting and at least every 3 years (§ 40).

The employer notifies the Danish Working Environment Authority of the asbestos work digitally via Virk, as far as possible no later than 3 days before the start (§ 11 and § 12). The only exceptions are sporadic, low-level exposure during short-term maintenance of non-friable material, encapsulation of material in good condition, and sampling. Before demolition there must be a written work plan (§ 13).

Cordon off the area clearly and keep unauthorised persons out. Put up the warning sign with the text «PAS PÅ! ASBESTARBEJDE. Ingen adgang for uvedkommende» (CAUTION! ASBESTOS WORK. No unauthorised access) (§ 14). If the work produces significant amounts of asbestos dust, the area must be enclosed in a dust-tight tent with an airlock and negative pressure, and the extracted air must be cleaned and discharged to the open air.

Choose methods and tools that produce as little dust as possible. Remove the dust with on-tool extraction with an alarm for falling air volume, and moisten continuously if the extraction is not enough. Use a vacuum cleaner that is suitable for asbestos (§ 15-17).

High-pressure washing of asbestos-containing material is prohibited, and no exemption is granted (§ 19 and § 41(2)).

Everyone must have suitable respiratory protection, and protective equipment from the area must not be worn outside it. Clean it of dust before you take it off. There must be no smoking, eating or drinking in the area (§ 22-26).

Collect the asbestos waste as quickly as possible. Moisten dusty waste before it is packed, and use suitable, closed packaging labelled to show that it contains asbestos (§ 30-32). Discarded protective equipment is also asbestos waste.

Clean continuously, and finish with a thorough final cleaning and ventilation. Take dust samples or air measurements if this is necessary to know that the area is clean (§ 21). Everyone is decontaminated before breaks and before leaving the workplace. If the limit value is exceeded, or unidentified asbestos turns up, the work is stopped immediately (§ 36).