Construction Site Environmental Monitoring – Noise, Dust & Vibration

Consideration to completing environmental monitoring on construction and demolition projects for noise, dust and vibration is now a standard part of the environmental planning stage.

The use of environmental monitoring consultants provides a number of benefits including compliance and provision of important dispute data. Below is a brief outline of this topic:

Compliance

Several regulatory documents govern what is needed and when in relation to construction and demolition site monitoring. The main documents include:

-          Mayor of London Best Practice Guidance – The control of dust and emissions from construction and demolition

-          BS:5228 Noise and vibration control on construction and open sites

-          Considerate Constructor and Considerate Contractor Schemes

-          Local Authority Requirements

-          DEFRA Guidance

Control Limits

Environmental monitoring for noise, dust and vibration can provide a safe guard against nuisance or damage. By setting control limits, alarms can be set to warn if levels have been breached which have the potential for damage or nuisance. These alarms can be discrete, immediate and automated so that action can be taken before a problem results.

Dispute Prevention and Resolution

Environmental monitoring can provide invaluable data as evidence that the project is not causing damage or nuisance to neighbours. If carried out correctly this can prevent or significantly reduce claims against the contractors involved.

In fact if monitoring is undertaken with the knowledge of the neighbours, it can prevent any disputes from occurring at all, as neighbours can see that the contractor is taking steps to safeguard their properties and prevent nuisance occurring.

Data Integrity

To ensure that the data collected from monitoring devices is useful it is very important that certain criteria are fulfilled. The list below will help to prevent money being wasted on monitoring which does not ultimately provide the evidence or preventative measure required.

-          Design of environmental monitoring plan including control limits

-          Calibration of devices

-          Correct setup and use of devices

-          Impartiality of those taking and logging the results

-          Report quality

For more information on construction site environmental monitoring please contact us.
0870 950 0161

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Legionella - What You Need to Know...

Legionella risk assessment and Legionella monitoring are simple processes in controlling the risk from Legionella bacteria in most water systems, read on to find out what you need to know...

What is it?

Legionella is a term for a group of bacteria which, if inhaled, can cause Legionnaires Disease. This disease is a form of pneumonia which proves fatal in about 10-15% of cases.

What regulations do I need to follow?

There are a number of regulations and guidance documents that deal with the risk from Legionella bacteria, however the main documents are the Health and Safety at Work Act and ACoP L8.

ACoP L8 is provided by the HSE to offer specific guidance on how to control the risk from Legionella including management, record keeping, training and practical tasks.

Where is the risk?

Legionella are water based bacteria commonly found in water systems such as domestic hot and cold water, cooling towers, drinking water etc.

In practise any water system has the potential risk from Legionella associated to it.

What do I need to do?

The first step is to carry out a risk assessment of the water systems you manage. This must be carried out by a competent person, as whoever completes this document is taking responsibility for the risk and so must understand it.

There are really only 2 steps to most Legionella control programmes:

Legionella Risk Assessment – Every 2 years (or when something significant changes)

Routine Legionella Monitoring – This is set out by the risk assessment but is likely to include basic temperature checks, physical inspection and sampling.

In most cases trained site staff carry out the more basic tests leaving only quarterly, 6 monthly or annual visits for a specialist contractor.

Things to check

1. Make sure any specialist contractor you employ is a member of the Legionella Control Association (LCA)

2. Impartial and independent advice is crucial. Make sure you are happy the contractor is not just trying to make work for themselves! Employing an independent consultant is one way of achieving this.

3. Keep records of the good work you are doing. Without written confirmation in your site log book the HSE could assume it never happened!

And finally…

Legionella is a real problem which according to the HPA is greatly under reported. They estimate the true level of infection is approximately 5000 a year*, and so effective control is essential for both those at risk and those managing water systems.

*HPA presentation at the Combating Legionella conference 2010.

Please contact us for more information on Legionella control and we will be happy to help.
0870 950 0161.

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Riverside Director Offers Expert Opinion on BBC News

Riverside Director and ATaC Chairman Jonathan Francis interviewed by BBC news about problems with asbestos management in schools.

If you need help in managing the risk from asbestos, please contact us and we will be very happy to help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Riverside Awarded Legionella Control Association Certificate

We are very happy to announce that we have been awarded registration with the Legionella Control Association.

Over the last few months Riverside have been undergoing a rigorous review programme to enable us to successfully register with the Legionella Control Association (LCA). This body has been setup to ensure Legionella service providers are working to the highest standards.

The LCA will continue to periodically audit our Legionella works to ensure that the high standards we provide continue, this we hope will reassure our clients and future clients that we endeavour to offer the highest quality service in terms of technical excellence, impartiality and advice.

A copy of our registration certificate can be found on our Links and Downloads page.

To find out more about the LCA, please click here.

If you need help in managing the risk from Legionella, please contact us and we will be very happy to help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Asbestos in Schools Survey Highlights Failings

A HSE survey of asbestos management in “system built” schools has shown widespread improvements are necessary. Industry experts however doubt that even this survey goes far enough to show the true extent of the problem.

The survey has resulted in 42 local authorities being inspected, 18 improvement notices, 1 prohibition notice and further advice being given to 32 other local authorities.

ATAC the UK’s leading association for Asbestos testing and consultancy specialists have published a report on their website explaining the findings of the HSE survey following a similar survey carried out by ATAC in February.

It also highlights some concerns that the HSE survey has not gone far enough to show the true level of the problem, a problem which is no surprise to ATAC.

The ATAC Chairman has previously stated “These are not minor problems that have crept in over recent years; rather they are fundamental problems that are endemic in schools in the UK.”

To read the full ATAC release, please click here.

The BBC has also covered the HSE survey results on the Radio 4 programme “You and Yours”. To listen to this programme please click here.

If you need help in managing the risk from asbestos, please contact us and we will be very happy to help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Legionella – South Wales – Source Tests Negative

Four sites tested as potential sources for the recent Legionnaires Disease outbreak have come back negative.

All four sites in Merthyr Tydfil have been told they are safe to re-open as no live legionella bacteria were found.

Over a hundred properties have now been visited in addition to 28 cooling tower sites. Investigations continue.

The outbreak area is a 7.5mile corridor between Abergavenny and Llandarcy.

Public Health Wales warn that it is likely that more cases of Legionnaires’ disease will emerge before the source is found. Anyone concerned should contact their GP.

Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia that is contracted by breathing in infected water droplets. Common sources include cooling towers, showers and hot and cold water systems.

The risk from Legionella bacteria is present in any building containing water systems and should be managed according to the guidance in HSE document ACoP L8. This document details a programme for control based on a 2 yearly risk assessment and an on-going monitoring regime.

If you need assistance ensuring you have the risk from legionella under control, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in controlling this risk.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Legionnaires Disease Outbreak in Wales

The death of a 64 year old woman has triggered investigations into an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in Wales. Another 13 people are being treated for the disease and 11 of the cases are said to be linked.

The woman died in hospital on Monday prompting Public Health Wales, the Health and Safety Executive and Environmental Health officers from seven council areas to investigate the link and possible source.

Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia that is contracted by breathing in infected water droplets. Common sources include cooling towers, showers and hot and cold water systems.

The risk from Legionella bacteria is present in any building containing water systems and should be managed according to the guidance in HSE document ACoP L8. This document details a programme for control based on a 2 yearly risk assessment and an on-going monitoring regime.

If you need assistance ensuring you have the risk from legionella covered, please contact us and we will be happy help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

HSE Safe Maintenance Campaign – Asbestos Hazard

The Health and Safety Executive have launched a safe maintenance campaign aimed to promote safety awareness when carrying out maintenance tasks.

The campaign has been launched in partnership with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the EEF and the TUC.

One of the key hazards identified is the increased risk from disturbing asbestos while completing maintenance tasks. The important factor in controlling this risk is in properly managing asbestos materials.

The HSE recommends asking two questions before carrying out any maintenance work:

“Have we had our premises surveyed to identify any asbestos containing materials?”

“Do we have drawings or records clearly showing where the asbestos is and what condition it is in?”

The information gathered in these two questions will provide the basis for managing the risk from asbestos when carrying out future maintenance works.

If you need help in answering the two questions above, or need a company to carry out a survey of your building, please contact us and we will be very happy to help.

For more details on the safe maintenance campaign, click here.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

New Riverside Brochure Available

A new Riverside brochure has been produced which provides a handy reference to our company and our services in: Asbestos | Legionella | Air Testing | COSHH Assessment | LEV Testing | Noise | Vibration | Occupational Health

The brochure is available in several forms:

Virtual brochure presentation – Available on the “Links and Downloads” page.

Downloadable pdf – Available on the “Links and Downloads” page.

Hard copy – Available on request, just contact us and we will get one out to you as soon as possible.

We hope that this will provide a useful resource that you can keep to hand in the most convenient way for you. Please contact us if you would like any further information on our company or services and we will be very happy to help you in any way we can.
Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

School Building Cuts Lead to a Greater Risk of Asbestos Exposure

The TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group have warned that cuts to the school building programme will lead to a greater risk of asbestos exposure.

This is because schools that have been promised new buildings or significant refurbishment will have reduced spending on maintenance. Allowing old schools to fall into disrepair dramatically increases the risk to both pupils and teachers.

The TUC says the number of teachers who have died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma has increased by over 300% in the last 20 years. Children exposed to asbestos are said to be five times more likely to develop mesothelioma than adult teachers in the same environment.

If you would like to read more information on this problem please click here

If you need assistance ensuring you comply with the asbestos regulations, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can.
Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

All Change on Asbestos Front – NFDC Journal

Riverside Environmental’s Director Jonathan Francis has just had an article published in the NFDC Journal, "All Change on Asbestos Front", the journal is the annual publication of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors.

In the article Jonathan Francis describes the changes in the asbestos industry, from the publication of the new Surveyors Guide, to the greater awareness of asbestos brought about through HSE increases in information, guidance and the number of inspection visits.

To read the full article please click on the attached file at the base of this page.

If you need assistance ensuring you comply with the asbestos regulations, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can.


Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Moulded Polyurethane Manufacturers – HSE Inspection – MbOCA and Isocyanates

In 2010/2011 the HSE are to undergo a programme of inspections designed to improve exposure control standards and promote awareness and knowledge of the risks posed by MbOCA and Isocyanates.

These chemicals are used in the manufacture of moulded polyurethane articles and have very real and specific hazards to users:

·         MbOCA has the risk phrase “May cause Cancer” and it is readily absorbed through skin on contact.

·         Isocyanates can cause occupational asthma if vapour and aerosols are inhaled and skin sensitisation can occur through contact with skin.

To control these risks Duty Holders need to ensure they provide adequate:

Risk Assessment

·         Control Measures

·         Information, Instruction and Training for Workers

·         Maintenance, Examination and Testing of Control Measures

·         Supervision, Monitoring and Review

Effective LEV should also be provided for processes involving heated MbOCA and isocyanates.

For more information on this story click here

If you need assistance ensuring you comply with COSHH regulations relating to MbOCA and Isocyanates, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can.
Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

HSE Campaign on Risk Assessment in the Use of Hazardous Substances

During 2010 there is a European-wide campaign called “Risk Assessment in the Use of Hazardous Substances”. The aim of the project is simple:

• Promote risk assessment for hazardous substances

• Focused on small and medium sized companies

• Targeted on the industry sector not a specific substance

• Raise awareness among employers and workers

• Assist enforcement inspectors
In the UK the focus will be on risks associated with the motor repair industry such as paint spraying and welding. For more information click here

Assessment of the substances used during the normal working practises of your organisation is an essential part of your health and safety plan and must be completed by a competent person. If you like independent assistance, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can.
Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.
info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk
http://www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/
0870 950 0161

Asbestos - Inside the Global Trade - BBC Feature

The seriousness of the risk posed by Asbestos has prompted the BBC to run a feature from its home page banner called “Dangerous Dust – Inside the Global Asbestos Trade”. In this feature prominent figures underline the links between asbestos and serious diseases such as Mesothelioma and lung cancer. Some extracts are included below:

“Banned or restricted in more than 50 countries, white asbestos continues to be widely used in China, India, Russia and Brazil, and many developing countries. The BBC's Steve Bradshaw and Jim Morris from the ICIJ report on an industry supported by a global network of lobby groups. “

“The WHO says white asbestos "is a known cause of human cancer," including mesothelioma. Dr Vincent Cogliano, of the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer says: "My own personal view is that these risks are extremely high. They are as high as just about any known carcinogen that we have seen, except, perhaps, for tobacco smoke. “

“The WHO says 125 million people encounter white asbestos in the workplace, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 100,000 workers die each year from all asbestos-related diseases.”

When talking about supporters of asbestos use the BBC writer comments;

“…The asbestos lobby's influence reaches around the world…Critics say the groups' strategy is one borrowed from the tobacco industry: create doubt, contest litigation, and delay regulation.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) has joined the World Federation of Public Health Organizations (WFPHA), the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in calling for a global asbestos ban.”

“The HSE actively supports the EU's white asbestos ban.”

“Meanwhile, on lung cancer, Alex Burdorf, a public health professor at Rotterdam's Erasmus Medical Centre, said his recent review of earlier epidemiological studies commissioned by the Dutch government, had convinced him that white asbestos was "much more dangerous than previously thought." "What we have shown is that chrysotile is as dangerous as crocidolite [blue asbestos] for contracting lung cancer, and is also linked to mesothelioma," he said. "I don't think there is safe way of working with asbestos, so I would support a global ban on asbestos purely because of public health risks." “

To see the full story please click here to go to the BBC website or contact us for more details including a full copy of the story quoted.



Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161