What asbestos is and why it matters — Asbestos Awareness Practice

Sample questions

1. 01A survey report lists anthophyllite in a sample taken from old pipe insulation. How should you treat that material?

   • AAs a man-made mineral fibre that sits outside the Regulations
   • BAs asbestos only where blue or brown asbestos is also present
   • CAs low risk, because only three types were commonly used
   • DAs asbestos, under the same Regulations as the other types

   Why: CAR 2012 regulation 2 defines asbestos as six fibrous silicates, and anthophyllite is one of them, so the same Regulations apply. It is tempting to think the three less common types matter less, but they are in the legal definition precisely so that nothing slips through. No type is treated as a safe one.

2. 02Which pairing of asbestos mineral and its everyday name is correct?

   • ACrocidolite: blue asbestos
   • BTremolite: white asbestos
   • CAnthophyllite: brown asbestos
   • DChrysotile: blue asbestos

   Why: HSE’s guidance in L143 names the three commonly used types: crocidolite (blue), amosite (brown) and chrysotile (white). Chrysotile is white, not blue. Tremolite and anthophyllite are among the six types in law, but neither is one of the three with an everyday colour name; brown is amosite. Remember these are only labels for mineral types, not a description of how a material looks.

3. 03Crumbs of old pipe lagging have fallen on to the top of a suspended ceiling where you need to fit new lights. Who does HSE’s guidance say should normally deal with debris from asbestos insulation?

   • AAnyone, because fallen debris is outside the Regulations
   • BThe building’s cleaners, once the ceiling tiles are lifted
   • CAn electrician with awareness training, using damp rags
   • DA licensed contractor, unless outside licensable work

   Why: HSE’s guidance in L143 says debris containing asbestos is still covered by the Regulations, and that work on debris from AIB, asbestos insulation or coatings needs a licensed contractor unless it falls outside the definition of licensable work. The awareness-trained electrician is the tempting answer, but awareness training does not permit work with asbestos at all.