The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002
Past exposure to asbestos currently kills 3000 people a year in Great Britain, the number is expected to go on rising for the next ten years. Asbestos is only a risk to health if asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in.
A new duty to manage asbestos has been added to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations. It will apply to you if you have maintenance and repair responsibilities for non-domestic premises either through a contract or tenancy agreement or because you own the premises. The duty will require you to manage the risk from asbestos by:
· Finding out if there is asbestos in the premises, its amount and what condition it is in;
· Presuming materials contain asbestos, unless you have strong evidence that they do not;
· Making and keeping up to date a record of the location and condition of the Asbestos Containing Material or presumed ACMs in your premises;
· Assessing the risk form the material;
· Preparing a plan that sets out in detail how you
are going to manage the risk from this material;
· Taking the steps needed to put your plan into action;
· Reviewing and monitoring your plan and the arrangements made to put it in place; and
· Providing information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb it.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of asbestos in your premises is required to make this available to you as the duty holder.
For more information why not try:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm
HSG227 A comprehensive guide to Managing ASBESTOS in premises