.jpeg)
「工作物」とは、建築物以外のものであって、土地、建築物又は工作物に設置されているもの又は設置されていたものの全てをいい、例えば、煙突、サイロ、鉄骨架構、上下水道管等の地下埋設物、化学プラント等、建築物内に設置されたボイラー、非常用発電設備、エレベーター、エスカレーター等又は製造若しくは発電等に関連する反応槽、貯蔵設備、発電設備、焼却設備等及びこれらの間を接続する配管等の設備等があります。なお、建築物内に設置されたエレベーターについては、かご等は工作物ですが、昇降路の壁面は建築物です。※ 令和2年10月28日付け基発1028第1号「石綿障害予防規則の解説について」より引用
最後に↓をポチっとお願いします♪
にほんブログ村
Hello there, this is President Yasui, running a one-man company mainly engaged in inspections of high-pressure gas facilities.
This month, I have three training courses lined up, which means fewer slots for on-site work—apologies for any inconvenience caused.
October is still open, though, so I’m looking forward to your work requests.
From January 2026, the Pre-Survey on Asbestos in Structures will begin.
Ahead of that, training sessions for certified asbestos pre-surveyors are being held in various locations.
Now, for those wondering, “What exactly is a ‘structure’ in this context?”—I’ve brought in an excerpt for you to read:
“A ‘structure’ refers to any installation other than a building that is or has been placed on land, buildings, or other structures. Examples include chimneys, silos, steel frameworks, underground installations such as water and sewage pipes, chemical plants, boilers installed inside buildings, emergency power generators, elevators, escalators, reaction tanks, storage facilities, power generation facilities, incineration plants, and the piping that connects them. For reference, while elevator cars are considered ‘structures,’ the shaft walls are regarded as part of the building.”
(Excerpt from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Explanation of the Ordinance on Prevention of Asbestos Hazards, October 28, 2020)
So how does this relate to our line of work?
Well, in the third line you see “boilers, reactors, storage tanks, and piping installed in chemical plants (i.e., factories).”
In short:
“If you’re going to touch the piping, you’d better survey it in advance and file the paperwork, right?”
(That’s my rough guess—still haven’t taken the course yet, haha.)
When I first started working, asbestos-containing gaskets—#1500, which we casually called sen-gohyaku-ban—were still in use.
But only a few months later, they were completely banned after a notice came out saying they’d soon no longer be allowed.
It’s been about 20 years since then.
And now, here we are—back to asbestos again.
Apparently, asbestos still exists in old facilities and equipment, and if it gets released into the environment during dismantling, it could be a huge problem.
The thing is, you won’t know whether asbestos is present without proper surveys and analysis.
It might even be in old residential homes.
So if someone does a “DIY project” on an old house, they could unknowingly inhale asbestos, spread it around their family or community, and carry the fibers on their clothes. That’s frightening.
For businesses like ours, new regulations mean that asbestos surveys must be conducted before working on buildings or structures.
But individuals, who don’t have access to such information, may remain unaware of the risks.
Whether asbestos or other specified hazardous substances, ignorance can lead to contamination and harm to those around us.
Disposal naturally costs money, and switching to non-hazardous alternatives may add further expenses.
Still, accepting that burden is part of our responsibility to the future.
We must handle and process asbestos properly.
The good news is that asbestos exists only in what’s already built—it’s finite.
We don’t know exactly how long it will take, but eventually, the issue will come to an end.
Until then, those of us who deal with it must arm ourselves with knowledge to protect our health.
I thought the fight against asbestos was long over, but it seems the real battle is still ahead.
From now on, certification will be essential.
So, I recommend everyone get both the Asbestos Work Supervisor and Asbestos Surveyor qualifications.
Thank you very much for reading all the way through.
See you next time!
