Asbestos surveyors can improve the efficiency of asbestos surveys through several strategies and best practices. These include optimising planning, leveraging technology, enhancing communication, and adhering to regulatory guidelines. Here’s how asbestos surveyors can achieve better efficiency:

1. Use of Advanced Technology

• Digital Data Collection Tools: Utilise mobile apps and software specifically designed for asbestos surveys. These tools allow surveyors to collect, store, and analyse data in real-time, reducing paperwork and the potential for errors.

2. Pre-survey Preparation and Planning

• Thorough Pre-survey Research: Gather as much information as possible about the site before conducting the survey. Reviewing building plans, maintenance records, and previous asbestos reports can help pinpoint likely locations of asbestos, reducing the time spent on-site.
• Survey Scope Definition: Clearly define the scope of the survey (e.g., management survey, refurbishment/demolition survey) in advance. This ensures that the survey is properly targeted and resources are efficiently allocated.
• Site Access Arrangements: Coordinate with site managers to ensure easy access to all areas. Pre-arranged access, including necessary keys and permissions, can significantly reduce downtime during the survey.

3. Team Coordination and Training

• Efficient Team Deployment: Assign surveyors based on their areas of expertise or the specific needs of the site. Larger surveys can benefit from dividing the team to cover multiple areas simultaneously, reducing overall survey time.
• Continuous Training and Certification: Ensure that all surveyors are up-to-date with the latest asbestos regulations, detection techniques, and safety protocols. Well-trained surveyors can quickly identify and manage asbestos risks with fewer errors or delays.

4. Standardised Reporting Systems

• Automated Reporting Tools: Use software that automates parts of the reporting process, such as generating charts, summaries, and labelling of asbestos locations. This can reduce time spent on documentation.
• Templates and Checklists: Implement standard templates for reports and checklists for the on-site survey process. Standardization ensures consistency, minimizes errors, and speeds up the survey.

5. Efficient Sampling and Laboratory Testing

• Strategic Sampling: Reduce unnecessary sampling by targeting areas more likely to contain asbestos based on building age, type, and materials used. This minimizes the time and cost of laboratory testing while still ensuring thoroughness.
• Fast-track Lab Partnerships: Build relationships with accredited laboratories that can provide faster testing results, allowing surveys to be completed more efficiently.

6. Collaboration and Communication

• Effective Communication with Clients: Clear communication with the client or building manager can help ensure smooth access to required areas, identify known asbestos-containing materials, and reduce delays caused by unforeseen circumstances.
• Regular Updates and Reporting: Provide regular updates to the client or stakeholders during the survey process to avoid misunderstandings and delays, ensuring smoother coordination.

8. Health and Safety Protocols

• Risk Management Planning: Proper health and safety planning ensures that the survey is conducted without delays due to accidents or health risks. Efficient use of PPE (personal protective equipment) and adherence to safety protocols minimizes risks and downtime.
• Pre-emptive Hazard Identification: Identifying and mitigating risks early in the survey process can reduce delays and interruptions caused by unforeseen hazards, ensuring a smooth workflow.

9. Prioritization of High-risk Areas

• Risk-based Surveying: Focus initial efforts on areas that are more likely to contain asbestos based on building materials, age, and historical usage. This prioritization can help surveyors quickly identify the most critical asbestos-containing areas.

10. Post-survey Follow-up and Recommendations

• Streamlined Post-survey Action Plans: Quickly provide clear, actionable recommendations for asbestos management or remediation, reducing the time needed for clients to take the next steps.
• Post-survey Audits: Conducting internal audits of the survey process to identify inefficiencies can help streamline future surveys and improve overall performance.

 

By adopting these strategies, asbestos surveyors can significantly improve the efficiency of their surveys, reducing both the time and costs associated with asbestos risk management while maintaining high standards of safety and compliance.

 

Lupin AuditPRO Asbestos significantly cuts the time taken to conduct audits with intuitive screens, photo upload with annotation and QR codes. Using Lupin AuditPRO Asbestos to manage asbestos audits can save time and reduce errors associated with manual data entry and processing. This can lead to faster and more accurate identification and management of asbestos.

 

As part of your AuditPRO Asbestos License you have access to AuditPro Apps that feature the very latest in Asbestos auditing technology. Intuitive screens with minimal data entry capture and mark up photos, upload site plans, work orders all designed to significantly reduce the time taken to conduct audits. The Apps can be used online, offline anywhere. They allow auditors to conduct audits in remote locations where there is no connectivity and when the device is back within internet range the audit data will be automatically updated on the auditors (or end users) register.