Ensure clearance inspection is undertaken prior to removing signage, plant, and equipment.

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View the Safe operating Procedures (SOP) and the completed Risk Assessment in the Hazard Register (Hazards) and forms at the end of this course.

Visual Inspections

This standard practice establishes the procedures for performing visual inspections of asbestos removal projects. Visual inspection is the process of examining the work area for evidence that the project has been successfully completed, as indicated by the complete absence of residue, dust, and debris.

The presence of any debris, dust, or residue on surfaces in areas where asbestos material has been placed indicates that the required standard has not been reached.

Visual Inspections and Air Sampling

Visual inspection is not intended as a substitute for air sampling at any stage of the project and is particularly not suggested in lieu of final air sampling for building re-occupancy following an asbestos removal project. The basic premise of this Standard Practice is that an area where residue or debris visible to the naked eye is still present, is not sufficiently clean for subsequent stages of work, including application of sealer, removal of plastic sheets, and final air sampling. Final air samples should not be taken until the final visual inspection is passed.

Inspections for Completeness of Removal

The Competent Person should enter all spaces where asbestos removal has been performed in order to inspect the work at close range. This may require the use of a ladder or scaffold to reach elevated locations, or entering areas of restricted mobility, such as service shafts and access openings.

If any asbestos containing debris is found, it shall be noted and reported without interrupting the inspection. The debris so identified should be removed before subsequent clearance inspection is undertaken.

Completion of Removal

All surfaces from which asbestos-containing materials have been removed are to be examined for the presence of residue. Where the asbestos-containing material has similar appearance to the substrate, even gross removal cannot be satisfactorily determined at a distance of more than a metre. A strong narrow beamed torch should also be used to assist in detection of dust/debris.

Pay special attention to areas that are difficult to reach or see. Use a small screwdriver or other sharp, pointed tool for poking into such places as the spaces between steel beams and the roof or ceiling frames if left in place, or air duct flanges. Give special care to elbows, valves, and tees on mechanical systems, as insulation usually adheres to these fittings more tightly AND becomes trapped in their crevices more readily than on the straight runs of pipe.

(a) One sampling run per shaft (unoccupied buildings) the sampling period should be at least 6 hours duration.
(b) Two sampling runs per shaft (occupied buildings) two monitoring periods of approximately equal duration.

In both cases (a) and (b), the results should be notified to all relevant parties immediately they are available preferably via fax or failing that, by phone or pager. The final report should record details of start time, sample duration, location of pump and stage of project in addition to the result.

Sampling Locations

Sampling shall be performed at the following locations at all jobs:

• clean side of decontamination unit
• change area
• lunchroom
• laundry
• surrounds of work area and
  Where the Competent Person deems it appropriate or the client, contractor, or the worker representative requests it, sampling should be carried out in other locations such as adjacent occupied areas and the floor above and below the work area.

Where residual asbestos is known or suspected to be present in inaccessible locations such as wall cavities and removal cannot be achieved without structural damage to the building, such areas are to be documented for future reference and the locations sealed and labelled to prevent any possibility of fibre release.

If debris or residue is found during visual inspection, recleaning and reinspection should be conducted until all residue, dust and debris have been removed. Any residue debris that absolutely cannot be removed should be securely adhered to the substrate so that it may not be rendered airborne by any conceivable future building operations, renovations, maintenance, or demolition of the building.

The application of a sealer should not be allowed until after cleaned surfaces have passed visual inspection for completion of removal. Conduct another inspection after the sealer has dried to confirm that all surfaces have been completely covered.

The sealer should be readily visible against the pipe or substrate so that complete coverage of the surface is apparent to the supervisor and subsequent occupants of the space.

A visual inspection should occur prior to clearance sampling and should be performed with the work enclosure intact. If airborne asbestos dust levels exceed 0.01 fibres/ml, another visual inspection may be made after recleaning by the contractor.

Completeness of Clean-Up (Final Inspection)

No residue, dust, dirt, or debris should be visibly detectable on the final inspection of a work area. Carefully examine all permanent fixtures of the work area, such as walls, ducts, conducts. pipes and ceiling tile grid bars, as well as the contractor’s equipment including scaffolding.

Folds, creases, and crevices in plastic isolation barriers may have fallen away from the walls during the course of a removal project. Asbestos-containing materials that fall between the sheeting and the wall should have been cleared up immediately and then the plastic reattached, so that the wall does not become contaminated. Carefully check such locations on final inspection to ensure that no residue remains.

Debris and contaminated water frequently seep under the plastic covering the floor and onto the actual floor surfaces underneath, necessitating further clean-up.

In such case, make a thorough visual inspection of the area to determine if:

• debris has run underneath floor tiles loosened by water
• debris is lying on, or has been ground into carpets or
• debris has run under the doorways or barriers at the perimeter of the work area.

Such situations require very close scrutiny to determine that no debris or loose fibre is present.

The final inspection should occur prior to a final air clearance and should be performed with all the seals on windows, door, and vents intact and the isolation barriers separating the work area from the adjacent areas in place.

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Crawl Spaces and Ceiling Spaces

Crawl spaces merit special concern because most have a dirt floor which may contain pulverised or impacted asbestos debris. There are practical limitations to the amount of soil that can be removed.

For an inspection of a crawl space after dirt and contaminated soil have been removed, make a close examination of the entire area. Use a small screwdriver or other pointed tool to dislodge pieces of impacted material from the soil as they are found. Excessive amount of debris are cause for terminating the inspection and directing a recleaning.

Protective Measures During Inspection

The Competent Person performing the visual inspections must comply with all applicable regulatory and contractual requirements for personal respiratory protection and decontamination. The type of respirator required for visual inspections may depend upon the stage of removal when the inspection takes place. The supervisor should always follow the appropriate decontamination procedure. He/she should comply with safety standards and other requirements to ensure physical safety.

Inspection during removal will require the same protective clothing and respiratory protection procedures for the Competent Person that are used by the personnel performing the removal work.