Asbestos Management

• Finding out if there is asbestos in the premises, the amount and condition.
• Presuming materials contain asbestos, unless you have strong evidence that they do not.
• Making and keeping up to date records of the location and condition of asbestos-containing materials or presumed asbestos-containing materials in your premises.
• Assessing the risk from the material.
• Preparing an Asbestos Management Plan which will take into consideration the steps needed to put your plan into action.
• Providing information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb it. MIS Environmental Ltd can carry out asbestos awareness training courses.

What is this Regulation?

The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (2002) was replaced with Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 on 13th November 2006.

Who does this Regulation affect?

All those who have responsibility for the maintenance and/or repair of non-domestic premises.

Does that mean me?

If you are the landlord, tenant or managing agent you may be wholly or partially responsible.

What is new about the duty to manage asbestos?

If you are the Duty Holder, you have a legal responsibility to prevent the exposure of any person to asbestos, or if this is not possible, to reduce it to the lowest possible level.

If asbestos-containing materials or presumed asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and have been assessed as low - medium risk, they may be left in place provided that they are regularly maintained and monitored. You must make sure that everyone who needs to know about the asbestos is effectively alerted to its presence. You can label asbestos-containing materials clearly with the asbestos warning sign, or use some other warning system. If you decide not to label the asbestos, you need to make sure that those who might work on the material know that it contains or may contain asbestos. Always bear in mind that some hidden asbestos may also be present. This information should be logged in the asbestos register that should be available to anyone who may work in the building. This register should be kept up to date.

You will need to introduce a method that will ensure that anyone who comes to carry out work on the premises does not start until they are given the relevant information on any asbestos present.

Some asbestos can be made safe by encapsulating it to prevent further damage. If this can be done safely, mark the area after it has been repaired and make sure that the Asbestos Register is updated. If asbestos is disturbed or is likely to be disturbed during routine maintenance work or daily use of the building, we strongly recommend that air monitoring is carried out to ascertain the ambient fibre concentration of asbestos fibres in the air (air monitoring).