Different jurisdictions usually have guidelines governing how or who should conduct asbestos audits in buildings or locations that are suspected to contain asbestos. However, it may be necessary for you to conduct an audit just to make sure that everything connected to the asbestos in your commercial building is under control. This article discusses some of the sections that your asbestos self-audit checklist should contain.
Information About a Competent Person
Your asbestos self-audit checklist can have items related to the designated competent person who is in charge of overseeing the safety and integrity of the asbestos containing materials in your commercial building. Several questions can help you to develop the different items for this section of the checklist like has the competent person been appointed in writing? Does that person have relevant training to perform his or her roles? Such questions will help you to ensure that someone competent can take charge of any asbestos emergency, such as damaged ACMs, within the commercial building.
Keeping Track of ACMs
Is there a list of all asbestos containing materials in the commercial building? Are there records of any ACMs that were removed from the building for disposal? Are there recent inspection reports to document the current condition of all ACMs? Such questions help to ensure that all ACMs that were discovered in the building can be accounted for. The information also helps you to know what steps need to be taken in response to the current condition of the ACM. For instance, you can know which ACMs need to be repaired in order to ensure that building occupants are safe from asbestos exposure.
Awareness of Building Occupants
Your checklist can also have items that are aimed at finding out the extent to which the occupants of the building know what to do about the ACM in the rooms that they occupy. Several questions can help you to assess their awareness, such as do the building occupants have a register of the ACM in the sections of the building that they occupy? Do they have the contact details of the competent person who can be reached on matters of ACM? Have they been trained on what to do in case of an asbestos emergency?
You can use the suggestions above as a starting point to help you to develop a more comprehensive self-audit checklist. Additionally, you can contact asbestos audit professionals for guidance on how to develop a checklist that meets the regulations of asbestos management in your area.
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