Engineering and environmental services company Thomson Ltd today launches iStar Asbestos Management, a new asbestos management software system for facility managers, health and safety officers and premises dutyholders.
Thomson Ltd is one of Britain's leading asbestos specialists. The Yorkshire-based company has been providing engineering and environmental solutions for over 35 years and asbestos-related services since 1974. Asbestos services include surveys, analysis, removal and training for clients in diverse industries such as petro-chemicals, power generation and local government. Blue-chip clients include Total, Conoco Phillips, Leeds City Council, Bradford University and London Waste Ltd.
The new iStar Asbestos Management system is aimed at all facility managers, health and safety officers and dutyholders with responsibility for asbestos on their sites, whatever their industry. Thomson Ltd originally developed the iStar solution for its own asbestos surveying and abatement teams and has trialled the software extensively in the field for a decade. The result is a robust, tried and trusted offering that can scale from large industrial plants down to schools, hotels, small factories or any other premises that contain asbestos. iStar Asbestos Management brings peace of mind to any organisation that is subject to the Health and Safety Executive's Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
iStar Asbestos Management provides an extremely easy-to-use visual database of all fixtures, fittings and infrastructure containing asbestos across a user's site or estate. All items are logged and cross-referenced with photos and site-plans, giving facilities managers, contractors and operatives a clear and up-to-date picture of all locations containing asbestos and their status. Users can search for locations by text, maps, plans or site grid systems.
By law, all sites that contain asbestos have to keep accurate records that must be immediately accessible to site operatives, sub-contractors and HSE inspectors. Many firms are unaware of their full responsibilities. Those that are find themselves struggling with invariably outdated or non-compliant spreadsheets and assorted paper-based methods to keep on top of the situation. Penalties for failing to comply with record-keeping regulations are severe and the ramifications for an organisation's public relations image can be huge.
iStar Asbestos Management ensures compliance with HSE regulations, alerts users to overdue inspections and records all removal/abatement works. The IT solution produces an on-demand audit trail of completed works and confirmation of procedural compliance with HSE standards. The Windows-based software can be installed on customer's existing hardware and Thomson Ltd custom-fits the solution to each client's individual needs.
Asbestos is very much a live issue. The potentially lethal substance, once a fire-proof wonder-material for builders, is still prevalent in very many British buildings. If asbestos is undisturbed and dealt with properly, its hazards can be minimised.
Last year, for example, retailer Marks & Spencer was fined 拢1 million for putting members of the public, staff and construction workers at risk of exposure to asbestos-containing materials during the refurbishment of two stores in Reading and Bournemouth. M&S did have guidance in place for how asbestos should be dealt with, but this was followed inappropriately by its sub-contractors.
iStar Asbestos Management's clean, visually-led interface means that there can be no excuse from any sub-contractor or tradesman with access to the system. All contaminated areas and fixtures are clearly highlighted along with details of their relevant compliance reports, surveyors' recommendations and inspection certification. Rather than searching through hefty tomes of paperwork, users can pin-point danger areas at the click of mouse straight away. HSE-standardised reports can be produced immediately.聽
Richard Thomson, Chairman of Thomson Ltd, says: "We have been at the forefront of this field for 35 years and ignorance is no defence when it comes to asbestos. Our aim has been to produce a bullet-proof asbestos safety management system that is as easy to use for a small-to-medium sized businesses as it is for a large corporation. iStar Asbestos Management will give reassurance to any dutyholder and ensure that they are always in compliance with the UK's tight regulations in this area. The idea has been to provide compliance without complication."
iStar Asbestos Management is available immediately direct from Thomson Ltd.
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