302 Ensuring effective control of exposure during asbestos removal - The Netherlands

Asbestos is a recognized carcinogen still causing many thousands of deaths each year. When removing asbestos from buildings or objects, effective control of exposure, preferably at the source, is crucial. In The Netherlands, companies can use a designated, easy-to-use tool (‘SMART-ns’) to assess exposure for a certain work procedure based on the AREAT-model, in which control measures can be taken into account. The tool also provides established safe working procedures, as well as control guidance sheets on specific issues, such as wetting and LEV. Furthermore, exposure can also be assessed by means of available measurements. Alternatively, companies can perform measurements to prove the safety of specific work procedures. Guidance for companies has been developed, based partially on the EN-689, in order to secure the quality of the exposure studies. After evaluation and approval by a national committee of experts (‘Validation & Innovation Point Asbestos’/ VIP-Asbest), the work procedure is taken up in SMART-ns, and can be used without further risk assessment. Challenges in the implementation and in enforcement in practice will be discussed.