Gasunie is one of the major gas infrastructure companies in Europe. Safety has the highest priority within Gasunie; it forms the basis of our ‘licence to operate’. We apply the most stringent safety, health and environmental standards for the benefit of our employees, contractors and the environment. Gasunie’s safety policy is characteristic for its proactive approach towards preventing accidents, incidents and dangerous situations.
Asbestos Asbestos is a natural product that was used in a range of applications due to its beneficial features (strong, hardwearing, insulating and reasonably priced) This raw material was bannend from 1 Juli 1993, however this does not mean theat alle asbestos was removed or no longer applied with effect from this date. Assuming the likelihood of remaining stocks of asbestos being used after that date. Several companies/authorities take 1 January 1995 as being the probable date after which asbestos was no longer used in new construcition work. Inhalation of free-floating asbestos fibres in the air can represent a risk to health. Remain alert at all times when you are working. If in any doubt, always ask or suspend activities where necessary.
Ceramic material Ceramic material is often used to replace asbestos in locations that can become very hot. Inhaling free-floating fibres of this material can also be harmful to health. That’s why ceramic fibres are treated exactly the same way as asbestos by Gasunie and other companies in the oil and gas industry, despite different statutory regulations. Asbestos is used in many different ways, ranging from gaskets to structural components of buildings belonging to Gasunie or to third parties (gas receiving stations). Asbestos can also occur in the ground as a result of (illegal) dumping.
Hazards What are the health risks associated with asbestos/ceramic material? If they are bound (also known as ‘bonded’) neither asbestos nor ceramic material are harmful to health. If fibres are floating freely in the air, meaning that they can be inhaled, they may represent a risk to health. Fibres may be released into the air as a result of: weathering; machining operations (for example, drilling, sawing, sanding or milling and also blasting work where gaskets are blasted; removing these materials (such as where they have been used to insulate hot parts of gas turbines and gaskets).
Please note! Sweeping jobs (usually carried out in gas receiving stations or metering and pressure-regulating stations) can cause fibres lying on the ground to be brought into the air meaning that these may then be inhaled. Sweeping is not allowed in stations showing yellow, orange or red stickers or in stations whose status is not known. Exposure to these fibres can cause specific types of cancer such as mesothelioma. These diseases are often only apparent many years after exposure took place. Environment Asbestos and ceramic fibres are also harmful when they end up in the environment or in surface water
Asbestos and ceramic fibres in practice Removal of asbestos-containing and ceramic materials Working on, or removing, asbestos-containing or ceramic materials may only be performed by an accredited company. These activities are subject to stringent regulations. There are a number of exceptions mentioned in procedure VGM_ ‘Herkennen, verwijderen en ontdoen van, en werken met asbesthoudende producten’ (HSE_ ‘Recognising, removing and disposing of and working with products containing asbestos’). Gas receiving stations In 2013, the distribution network operators (including Enexis and Alliander) started an asbestos inventory of their assets, among which were gas receiving stations. When an inventory has taken place, special colour-coded asbestos stickers are fixed to doors. Special rules apply to access and performance of activities. Please refer to the asbestos chart used by Gasunie for these rules.
In the event of suspected (highly weathered or damaged) asbestos or ceramic material leave the site immediately inform the manager have a sample taken and get it analysed