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HSG248 is the HSE published guidance for analysts involved in asbestos work. It is the authoritative source of asbestos analytical procedures within Great Britain.
HSG248 guidance is primarily designed to assist analysts in complying with their legal obligations however also useful to asbestos consultants, occupational hygienists, safety professionals, asbestos removal contractors, building owners and facilities managers.
The new guidance was published in July 2021, with UKAS requiring submissions from analytical companies on how they will ensure compliance by the 1st December, 2021. Analysts are required to work to the new standard by 1st February, 2022.
HSG248 Edition 1 guidance was updated following observations and an extensive study by the HSE. This study found many areas that require significant improvement in analytical methodology and practises.
HSG248 Edition 1 was long overdue an update; the draft version of Edition 2 was originally dated for publication in 2016. The draft was released for review in 2015 but it has taken until 2021 for the new HSG248 guidance to released.
The new HSG248 guidance provides clarification on technical and personal safety issues. The main areas covered include further clarification regarding sampling and 4-Stage Clearances. In addition, new information on sampling soils for asbestos is included.
HSG248 covers a range of topics and HSE guidance for asbestos laboratories. It is a document mostly used by specialists in the asbestos industry. Topics include:
Sampling of asbestos materials
Bulk analysis of asbestos samples
Air sampling & fibre counting
Clearances following asbestos removal
HSG248 Edition 2 attempts to bring responsibilities in line with current CDM regs and therefore puts more onus on giving the client more responsibility.
CONTACT USA key change associated with the updated HSG248 guidance is the role of the client versus the role of the asbestos removal contractor in providing an analyst on site.
HSG248 Edition 2 recommends the analyst should be appointed by the client not the removal contractor wherever possible. Clause 1.22, states:
‘It is strongly recommended that the analyst for site clearance certification is independently sourced and employed by the building owner or occupier (ie building client) in control of the premises. This arrangement should:
create a clearer and healthier contractual situation on site;
help avoid any potential conflict of interest (perceived or real) that may arise should the analyst be employed by the removal contractor;
give added assurance that the inspection process is undertaken impartially and objectively, as required by International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 17025;
enable the independent analyst to be involved in resolving any problems (between the building client and contractor) that may arise.’
HSG248 Edition 2 states that the analyst should be involved from early in the process to help design the project and agree the outcome. This is the main and crucial difference in the new HSG248 guidance, compared to the previous edition.
The process should be client & consultant led from the start of project to the end of project, and not contractor led as has previously often been the case.
In addition, there is also a requirement for the client [building client] to receive copies of the paperwork, regardless of who employs the asbestos analyst.
CONTACT USThere are a number of key changes that will affect the analyst on site in the new HSG248 guidance. These include:
Handover forms [from removal contractor to analyst] are now mandatory, failure to provide one will result in the clearance failing.
Analysts must estimate the time for the clearance. Should this time estimate differ by more or less than 20%, they must also explain why and any mitigating circumstances
More photographs are required, and these must also be date and time stamped
Analysts are not allowed to undertake any cleaning or assist in anyway; any cleaning of more than 10 minutes should result in the analyst failing the enclosure.
Actual results will be reported and not just the ‘less than clearance limit’ to provide clarity and transparency associated with results
There is a significant increase in quality control monitoring to be undertaken by the analyst company, on their own analysts associated with the new HSG248 guidance, including increasing witnessed and revisit audits. Witnessed Audits will be increased from 4 per year to 5% of all Four Stage- Clearances completed in an annual period. Additional desk top audits of paperwork are also required.
As part of the new HSE HSG248 guidance there are some key laboratory changes which will affect analysts.
There is now a reduction on the maximum number of samples an analyst can test per day and there is a increased requirement for quality control checks.
Negative asbestos results now count as double due to the length of time required to analyse a negative sample.
There is also a requirement for increased record keeping. These include details of the matrix of the sample, including the layers or textures where appropriate.
Analysts are also required record more information regarding sample preparation and record how much time each sample takes to analyse.
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