Cleaning of premises and plant

• Pages: 20-22

7. Cleaning of premises and plant

7.1. General

7.1.1. Every employer should ensure, as far as is practicable, that the work

premises are maintained in a clean state and are free of asbestos waste.

7.1.2. All machinery, plant and equipment should be kept free from dust,

together with all external surfaces of exhaust ventilation equipment and all internal

surfaces of the building.

7.1.3. (1) Cleaning should be carried out as far as is practicable by vacuum-

cleaning equipment or by some other means in such a way that asbestos dust neither

escapes nor is discharged into the air of the workplace.

(2) Where required, suitable extension hoses should be fitted to the

vacuum-cleaning equipment.

7.1.4. (1) Where cleaning by a dustless method is impracticable, workers

undertaking the cleaning should wear appropriate protective clothing and respiratory

equipment.

(2) Such cleaning should be carried out as far as is practicable when no

other workers are present. If it is necessary for other workers to be present, they should

also wear protective equipment.

7.2. Floors

7.2.1. Floors should be regularly cleared of accumulated dust and waste

material.

7.2.2. Floor cleaning should be carried out by vacuum equipment or by some

other means that causes no secondary dust generation. Where mechanical sweepers are

used, they should if necessary be modified to ensure that the cleaning operation does

not generate airborne dust.

7.2.3. (1) Floor surfaces should be kept in good repair and cracked or broken

surfaces should be repaired.

(2) Concrete surfaces should, where practicable, be treated to produce a

surface which can be satisfactorily cleaned of dust.

7.3. Walls

7.3.1. New buildings should be constructed in such a way that their walls have

smooth surfaces. Walls of existing buildings should be rendered smooth as far as is

practicable.

7.3.2. Walls should be cleaned annually or more frequently should this be

necessitated by the nature of the building or the process.

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