Asbestos: know your building, know your duty

This Global Asbestos Awareness Week (1 to 7 April) HSE is calling on businesses, building managers and tradespeople across Great Britain to make sure they’re compliant with law – providing practical support and guidance to help.

Facing the consequences: Two companies and site manager prosecuted

A site manager received a suspended prison sentence and a 5-year director disqualification after failing to ensure a safe asbestos clear-up at a demolition site.

When asbestos was discovered on site, the client had a clear duty to bring in a licensed contractor. Instead, they appointed someone without the necessary licence or competence – putting workers and members of the public at risk of exposure to a substance that causes fatal lung disease.

The 2 companies involved were fined a combined £88,300, ordered to pay costs of over £5,000 and statutory surcharges of £4,000. The site manager also has an electronically monitored curfew between 7pm and 7am for 3 months.

Global Asbestos Awareness Week (1 to 7 April)

Would you pass inspection?

HSE inspectors can visit premises without warning to review the management of health and safety risks, with latest inspections having a particular emphasis on checking effective asbestos management.   

For building owners, landlords, those responsible for maintenance or repair and people working in building and allied trades, effective planning and management of asbestos is not optional — it is a legal requirement. 

Do you know what’s in the building?

The risks are not static. As buildings age, ACMs can deteriorate. The law requires them to be actively monitored and managed to keep people safe.

If historical records are incomplete, or you suspect materials have not been properly documented, now is the time to act.

The law is clear

There is a legal duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises and multi-occupancy domestic premises. The duty to manage asbestos applies across a wide range of premises — from factories, warehouses, offices and shops to public buildings including hospitals, schools, places of worship, museums and libraries.

All work on asbestos-containing materials requires specific training and controls. It is illegal to carry out work without these, and asbestos waste must be disposed of in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and other relevant legislation.

What you need to do

HSE sets out a clear framework for managing asbestos in buildings:

• arrange for an asbestos survey — or review any existing surveys
• make a register and assess the risk
• write an asbestos management plan
• put your plan into action

Proactive, planned management of asbestos is not just a legal requirement – it makes sound financial and operational sense. Unexpected remediation costs and emergency responses are far more expensive and disruptive than planned, systematic management.

Staying safe during construction and maintenance work

Due to the nature of the job, workers in skilled construction and building trades are at particular risk of disturbing asbestos.

If you’re a tradesperson, or manage workers in building, maintenance and allied trades, make sure you know:

• what asbestos-containing materials look like and where they can be found
• how to safely carry out work without disturbing asbestos
• what to do when you come across it
• about asbestos awareness training
  

Support and guidance available

Global Asbestos Awareness Week
Download and share resources for Global Asbestos Awareness Week to raise awareness of the risks and information available to help manage it safely.

Asbestos and You
This campaign includes our free to download ‘quick guide for trades’ with practical guidance for tradespeople on common examples of asbestos and where they can be found.

Asbestos: Your Duty
Get guidance on legal duty and resources for building owners, landlords and those responsible for maintenance and repair.

Training
Find out more about what level of training is required for different roles.

Asbestos – awareness week resources

Download and share the resources below during Global Asbestos Awareness Week and beyond to raise awareness of the risks and information available to help manage it safely.

Campaign toolkits

Who’s your audience? We have two campaigns that you can help:

Asbestos – Your Duty campaigns toolkit – the legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings for building owners, landlords and those responsible for maintenance and repair.

Asbestos & You campaigns toolkit – practical guidance for tradespeople on common examples of asbestos, where they can be found and what to do when they come across it.

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Introduction to asbestos safety

1. Overview

Asbestos is the greatest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain. Around 5,000 people die every year from asbestos-related diseases which typically take decades to develop and cannot be cured.

It is made up of tiny, invisible fibres that can be breathed in or rest on your clothes.

Asbestos was used in many industries and buildings until it was banned in 1999. However, while asbestos continues to be safely removed, much of this material is still in place.

This means people who work in older buildings could still be exposed to asbestos fibres today if asbestos is not managed effectively, and is damaged or disturbed.

Buildings constructed after 2000 are unlikely to contain asbestos.

Who this guidance is for and what it covers

This guidance is for:

• building owners and landlords
• those maintaining or repairing buildings
• employers of anyone likely to disturb asbestos
• workers
• asbestos surveyors and analysts
• licensed contractors

The guidance summarises what you should do to comply with the law, including:

• actions to take depending on your job role
• identifying if asbestos is present and its condition
• assessing the risks and putting the right controls in place
• providing the right training, instruction and information to anyone who might disturb asbestos
• understanding when a licensed contractor must do the work

If you’re self-employed

If you are self-employed you have the same responsibilities under the law as an employer and a worker.

Types of work more likely to disturb asbestos

When people work on the structure of a building, they are more likely to come across asbestos. Activities that could disturb asbestos and put them at greater risk can include:

• drilling into a wall
• refurbishment or retrofitting
• demolition
• installation, for example of smart meters

People working in certain trades are more likely to come across asbestos, particularly if they work on buildings which date from before 2000.

When asbestos is in good condition and not disturbed the risk of exposure is extremely low.

Our worker’s guide to asbestos safety explains how they and their employers can avoid putting themselves or others at risk.

Workers in buildings containing asbestos

If your job is unlikely to disturb asbestos but you work in a building that contains it, there will only be a risk to your health when fibres are released into the air and breathed in.

Workers most at risk of exposure are those who may disturb the fabric of buildings, for example people doing refurbishment work. This also includes those carrying out routine building maintenance, for example as a caretaker.

Those who have the duty to manage asbestos in your building are responsible for your safety. Where asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and not likely to be damaged they should be left in place and the risk managed.

However, where asbestos is in poor condition or likely to be damaged during the normal use of the building, and can’t be safely repaired or enclosed, it should be removed.

Anyone who works in a building where asbestos is known or presumed present, such as a teacher, must be:

• informed about the specific locations of asbestos-containing materials in the rooms or areas they use
• told not to disturb them and what to do in the event of accidental damage

This will form part of the asbestos management plan for the premises.

We have guidance explaining who has the duty to protect workers from asbestos in public buildings including schools.

Members of the public and homeowners

Contractors carrying out work in your home have a legal duty to protect you from any risks to your health due to their activities. This includes risks from asbestos-containing materials.

In owner-occupied domestic properties, homeowners are not engaged in work activity so are not legally responsible for risks to contractors.

HSE has general advice for members of the public that includes doing DIY in their own home.

There is also information on asbestos and its disposal on GOV.UK.

The legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings

The duty to manage asbestos in buildings covers:

• all non-domestic premises, like factories or shops
• ‘common parts’ of multi-occupancy domestic premises, like purpose-built flats

Dutyholders must protect people from the risks of exposure to asbestos and there is more detailed guidance on this duty to manage asbestos in buildings, which includes:

• what the legal duty is
• who the dutyholder is, depending on the type of building etc
• what the dutyholder must do

The Approved Code of Practice: Managing and working with asbestos will help dutyholders comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations.

2. Why asbestos is dangerous and where it can be found

Why asbestos is dangerous

Asbestos is not just a problem of the past. It can be present today in any building built or refurbished before 2000.

You cannot see, smell or feel the fibres in the air or on your clothes, so you do not know they are there.

When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air. When people inhale these fibres they can cause serious diseases which cannot be cured. The most common diseases caused by asbestos are:

• mesothelioma
• asbestosis
• asbestos-related lung cancer

These diseases will not affect you immediately – they often take a long time to develop. But once you have been diagnosed it is often too late to do anything. This is why it is important to protect yourself and others now.

Information from GOV.UK on types of diseases caused by asbestos

What to do if you come across asbestos

If you come across any material you think may contain asbestos, you must:

• stop work immediately
• follow the guidance on what to do if you think you have found asbestos

Where asbestos can be found

Since 1999, using asbestos in the construction or refurbishment of buildings has been illegal. However, in the past, it was used widely for such things as:

• lagging on plant and pipework
• insulation products such as fireproof panels
• asbestos cement roofing material
• sprayed coatings on structural steel work to insulate against fire and noise

These are known as asbestos-containing materials and may still be present in buildings.

Asbestos can also be hidden in a building, for example in cavity walls.

It is very important that these buildings are inspected for asbestos-containing materials.

Photographs showing locations of asbestos and actions to take

Diagrams of industrial and domestic premises showing where asbestos can occur

3. Actions to take depending on your job role

Depending on your job, you will have different actions to take to comply with the law on any work involving asbestos.

This page offers a summary of the actions you must take, whatever your role. Each section provides links to more detailed guidance.

Building owner or landlord

If you are a building owner or landlord, you have a legal duty to manage any asbestos in that building.

Finding out if asbestos is present and identifying its condition

There is guidance to help you:

• find out if asbestos could be present in your building
• assess its type, location and condition by arranging an asbestos survey

Non-domestic premises

The duty to manage covers all non-domestic premises. These are industrial, commercial or public buildings such as:

• factories and warehouses
• public buildings, such as hospitals and schools
• offices
• shops

Domestic premises

The duty to manage does not apply to domestic premises such as owner-occupied homes. But it does apply to the ‘common parts’ of multi-occupancy domestic premises, such as:

• purpose-built flats
• houses converted into flats

There is guidance for dutyholders on:

• common parts of domestic premises and how the duty to manage applies
• responsibilities of landlords who provide social or private housing

A summary of your duties

As part of your duties to manage asbestos in your building, you must:

• find out if asbestos is present
• arrange an asbestos survey
• assess the risk of anyone being exposed to the asbestos
• have an asbestos register, that includes the location, type and condition of the asbestos found
• prepare a plan of how to manage these risks
• put the plan into action, review it and keep it up to date, especially when there has been work on the building
• give this information to anyone who might work on or disturb the asbestos

Co-operation

Other people, like those working on a building, should co-operate with the building owner to comply with the above requirements.

More information about your duty to manage asbestos.

Person responsible for maintenance or repair of a building

Contract or tenancy agreement

If you have a contract or tenancy agreement that says you are responsible for maintaining or repairing premises, you have the same legal duties as building owners or landlords to manage asbestos safely.

Non-domestic premises

You must follow the guidance for building owners of non-domestic premises.

Domestic premises

You have a duty to manage asbestos if you are responsible for maintaining or repairing any common parts of domestic premises.

Routine building maintenance

If your work includes routine building maintenance, for example as a caretaker or site manager, you are not responsible for managing asbestos. However, you should be aware of any asbestos in the building and have received asbestos awareness training.

Employer

As an employer of anyone whose work might involve asbestos, you must find out if there is asbestos in a building before work starts. For example, ask:

• to see the asbestos management plan including the asbestos register and site plans
• if an asbestos survey has been completed to find out the location and condition of any asbestos in the building, especially where it was constructed or refurbished before 2000

You must also:

• check the information provided on asbestos is sufficient for the work, for example if you are breaking into the building fabric a more intrusive refurbishment survey may be required
• consider if the work can be done without disturbing asbestos
• carry out an asbestos risk assessment and draw up a plan of work to ensure the work is done safely

When work must be done by a licensed contractor

You must confirm the type of asbestos in the building and decide if any or all of the work must be carried out by a licensed contractor.

Our guidance on licensable work with asbestos will help you make that decision.

Write a plan of work

Before any work involving asbestos starts you should write a plan of work (sometimes called a method statement). This should include:

• details of the work to be done
• what measures will be in place to control the risks from asbestos for workers and others who could be affected by the work

The Asbestos essentials task sheets can help you and your workers make sure that exposure to asbestos is kept as low as possible. Use the equipment and method sheets and the right task sheet to prepare a plan of work.

Training and information

If you and your workers are trained and competent to carry out lower-risk, non-licensed asbestos activity, you should write a plan of work before you start.

You should also:

• ensure your employees and other workers under your supervision understand the plan of work, what control measures are in place and how to comply with them
• provide workers with the right equipment, which is clean, in good working order and protects them against asbestos
• train workers in using this equipment
• make sure the work area is inspected visually at the end of the job, to check it’s safe for reoccupation
• make arrangements for the safe disposal of any asbestos waste at a licensed or permitted site
• consult the health and safety representative (if there is one)

Find out more on training for work involving asbestos.

Worker

To help protect yourself and others, it is important to know why asbestos is dangerous and where it can be found.

If you are working on the structure of a building some activities will put you at most risk, including:

• drilling into a wall
• refurbishment
• retrofitting (for example, installing a smart meter)
• demolition

We have a separate worker’s guide to asbestos safety. It covers:

• what you must do as a worker by law
• what your employer must do to protect you and others
• what to do before you get started on any work involving asbestos
• what to do if asbestos is disturbed
• work you can do without a licence but with suitable training
• work that must be carried out by a licensed contractor

If you are a worker in an owner-occupied home, you and your employer must still take action to ensure that you and others are not exposed to asbestos.

Licensed contractor

All employers must get a licence from HSE before carrying out any licensable work with asbestos.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations define licensable work as follows:

• where the exposure of workers to asbestos is not sporadic and of low intensity
• the risk assessment cannot clearly demonstrate that the control limit will not be exceeded
• work on asbestos coating

Licensable work also includes work on asbestos insulating board or asbestos insulation when the risk assessment demonstrates all of the following:

• it is not short duration work
• exposure is not sporadic and of low intensity
• the control limit will not be exceeded

The licensed contractors’ guide

Our publication Asbestos: The licensed contractors’ guide explains safe work practices for asbestos. It’s for people with a licence who repair or remove asbestos-containing materials. It’s also for supervisors of that work, and people with an ancillary licence or who provide asbestos training.

More information about licensing

Find out more about asbestos licensing and what you must do as a licensed contractor.

Asbestos surveyor

To help people manage the risk from asbestos in the building an asbestos survey should:

• provide accurate information on the amount and condition of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)
• assess the level of damage to ACMs and whether remedial action is required
• be used to prepare a record of the location of any known or presumed ACMs in a register and asbestos management plan of the building(s)
• help identify all the ACMs to be removed before refurbishment work or demolition

There are 2 types of survey for ACMs – a management survey and a refurbishment or demolition survey. Find out more about the types of survey.

As a surveyor, you must co-operate with the dutyholder to ensure:

• the appropriate type of survey is completed
• all asbestos is identified, as far as reasonably practicable, within the survey type and agreed scope
• you provide clear instructions to avoid uncertainty
• your report can be used to prepare an asbestos register and building plan
• the dutyholder understands that the survey will help them to manage asbestos and is not the end point in managing asbestos

Detailed guidance on survey planning, carrying out surveys, the survey report and dutyholder’s use of survey information is available in Asbestos: The survey guide.

Asbestos analyst

Analysis of bulk asbestos samples

The only way to confirm if a material contains asbestos is to analyse a sample.

Analysis of asbestos samples is a skilled and specialist task so trained and competent analysts in analytical laboratories must be used.

Sampling and analysis of fibres in air

There is a legal requirement for the premises (or parts of premises) to be thoroughly cleaned following licensed asbestos removal work.

The premises or areas where the removal has taken place must be separately, independently assessed by an analyst to make sure the locations are:

• thoroughly clean
• fit to return to the owner or occupier for re-occupation

Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide is the authoritative source of asbestos analytical procedures in Great Britain. It will help you as an analyst to comply with your legal obligations.

4. Identifying if asbestos is present and its condition

Non-domestic premises

To comply with your duty to manage asbestos in your building, for example through a tenancy agreement or contract, you must:

• take reasonable steps to find out if there are asbestos-containing materials in the building, this will usually take the form of an asbestos survey by a competent surveyor
• if asbestos is present, determine how much, where it is and what condition it’s in
• presume that materials do contain asbestos unless you have strong evidence they do not
• prepare a detailed asbestos management plan that sets out how the risks will be managed
• put the plan into action and monitor
• at least annually, review the plan including all procedures and arrangements, asbestos register and site drawings so that the plan remains relevant and up to date
• provide information on the location and condition of asbestos-containing materials to anyone who is likely to work on or disturb them

Find out more on non-domestic premises and how the duty to manage applies.

Common parts of domestic premises

If you are the person responsible for maintaining and repairing common parts of domestic premises, the same requirements apply.

Find out more on common parts of domestic premises and how the duty to manage applies.

Asbestos surveys and analysis

If no information is available or it is limited and you suspect asbestos may be present, you can:

• have the premises surveyed
• arrange for representative samples of the material you are going to work on to be analysed

Alternatively, you can assume that any material you need to disturb does contain asbestos and take the appropriate precautions.

Find out about the types of survey that can be carried out.

Before building, repair or maintenance work starts

Find out if the part of the building likely to be disturbed contains asbestos and, if so, its type and condition.

If you are an employer, you should check relevant information, such as that contained in construction plans or provided by dutyholders in asbestos surveys or registers.

If no records are available, or you are unsure about their accuracy, you may need to arrange a survey and analysis of representative samples to determine the presence, type and condition of asbestos.

Decide if it’s possible to do the building, repair or maintenance work without the risk of asbestos exposure. If that’s not possible, read our introduction to asbestos essentials and do an asbestos risk assessment to identify who might be at risk and the level of possible asbestos exposure from the work.

You can then determine whether you need a licensed asbestos contractor or choose which non-licensed work methods to use and any training required for effective risk control.

Photographs showing locations of asbestos and actions to take

Diagrams of industrial and domestic premises showing where asbestos can occur

5. Carrying out an asbestos risk assessment

Before starting any work that is likely to disturb asbestos, an employer must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

When assessing the risk, the employer must take account of the information provided by the building owner or landlord.

If the employer doesn’t have enough information, they may need to arrange a survey and analysis of representative samples to determine the presence, type and condition of asbestos.

How to do a risk assessment

The employer, or whoever carries out the risk assessment on their behalf, must:

• be competent to do the risk assessment
• do it before work starts and allow enough time to put appropriate controls in place
• make sure the assessment is specific to the actual tasks to be done and considers all aspects of the work

Risk assessments are about identifying hazards and controlling the risks from them. This means:

• first, decide if it’s possible to do the building, repair or maintenance work without the risk of asbestos exposure
• if that’s not possible, identify who might be at risk and the level of possible asbestos exposure from the work
• you can then decide which work methods to use for effective risk control

A risk assessment should include full details of the work to be carried out and how long it is expected to take.

In line with the Control of Asbestos Regulations, your risk assessment must include:

• how the work will be carried out and the expected scale and duration
• the types of asbestos and results of any survey or analysis or a statement that assumes asbestos is present
• the type, quantity, amount, means of attachment, and condition of the asbestos-containing materials present
• the expected level of exposure
• the controls that will be used to reduce exposure, for example local exhaust ventilation or controlled wetting
• a statement explaining why any work with asbestos is not licensable, and whether it is notifiable non-licensed work
• decontamination procedures for tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• how asbestos waste will be managed and disposed of at a licensed site
• emergency procedures

The detailed guidance in the Approved Code of Practice on managing and working with asbestos explains what you must do to carry out a risk assessment when work involves asbestos.

Our Asbestos essentials task sheets explain how you can safely carry out non-licensed work. You can use these sheets to form an important part of your risk assessment where they cover the work you’re doing.

There is more guidance on asbestos risk assessments and plans of work.

Competency

Employers must make sure that whoever carries out the risk assessment and provides advice on the prevention and control of exposure is competent to do this. Whoever carries out the risk assessment should:

• have adequate knowledge, training and expertise in understanding the risks from asbestos and be able to make informed and appropriate decisions about the risks and precautions needed
• know how the work activity may disturb asbestos
• be familiar with and understand the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations
• have the ability and authority to collate all the necessary and relevant information
• be able to assess other non-asbestos risks on site
• be able to estimate the expected level of exposure to decide whether or not the control limit is likely to be exceeded

Share information

You should share the findings of your risk assessment with workers, and anybody else who might be affected. A copy of the risk assessment must be available on site.

6. Deciding if the work must be done by a licensed contractor

The employer of anyone whose work might involve asbestos has the responsibility for deciding how much risk the proposed work presents.

Depending on the type of work and its level of risk, you must decide if the work:

• does not need a licence and doesn’t need to be notified
• must be notified, but no licence is needed
• must be done by a licensed contractor

When no licence is needed

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, work with asbestos-containing material that can be done without a licence must meet specific conditions and be carried out so exposure to workers will not exceed the control limit.

Examples of non-licensed work include:

• cleaning up small quantities of asbestos dust and debris
• drilling textured decorative coatings to install fixtures or fittings
• encapsulation or sealing-in asbestos that is in good condition

There is more guidance, with further examples, explaining what is defined as non-licensed work with asbestos.

When to notify, but no licence is needed

Some non-licensed work must still be notified to the correct authority. This depends on what work you are going to do, the type of asbestos involved and what condition it’s in.

Examples of work you must notify authorities about, but where no licence is needed, include work involving:

• asbestos cement products (for example roof sheeting) where the material will be substantially damaged or broken up
• repair of asbestos insulation on a pipe where the exterior coating has been damaged
• large-scale removal of textured decorative coatings using steaming or gelling methods – beyond that required for maintenance such as installation or replacement of smoke alarms and fittings

Duties for notifiable work

If the work is notifiable, you must:

• notify the relevant enforcing authority
• designate the area where the work is being done
• ensure worker medical examinations are carried out
• maintain worker health records

There is detailed guidance on notifiable non-licensed work with asbestos including which enforcing authority to notify.

When a licensed contractor is needed

Higher-risk work with asbestos must only be done by a contractor holding a licence from HSE.

Only licensed contractors can carry out the following:

• any work on sprayed asbestos
• most repair or any removal of asbestos insulation, for example lagging on pipes and vessels for thermal insulation
• most work on asbestos insulating boards, such as removal of partition walls, linings and suspended ceilings

There is detailed guidance on licensable work with asbestos.

Information for licensed contractors

Licensed contractors must notify all licensable work to the appropriate authority.

Find out how to apply for a licence

7. Training and information for work involving asbestos

Workers who are likely to disturb asbestos during their normal day-to-day work must be appropriately trained to work safely with asbestos or trained to be aware of it and stop work.

Employers must provide training and information

Employers must provide adequate information, instruction and training for workers.

To stay safe, and protect others, workers must know how to recognise asbestos-containing materials and what to do if they find them.

Asbestos awareness training

Anyone whose work could disturb asbestos or who supervise or influence the work should know how to recognise and avoid disturbing asbestos-containing materials.

Workers with the appropriate training should know:

• the dangers of asbestos and its effects on health
• the types, uses and where asbestos-containing material is likely to be in buildings
• general procedures to deal with an emergency, like an uncontrolled disturbance and release of asbestos
• how to avoid the risk of exposure to asbestos

Awareness training does not allow you to undertake work which will disturb asbestos.

Additional training

Workers who plan to carry out non-licensed work on asbestos need additional information, instruction and training.

Our guidance includes training for non-licensable work

8. Relevant legislation

This page sets out the main relevant legislation that applies to asbestos safety.

Control of Asbestos Regulations

The main rules for safely managing and working with asbestos are the Control of Asbestos Regulations. They explain who has legal duties and what those duties are.

The regulations include:

• types of work that require a licence and those that don’t
• requirements of work with asbestos that require a licence
• requirements for work with asbestos that is non-licensed (including notifiable work)
• requirements for designating areas where you are working on asbestos, medical surveillance and record keeping

Duty to manage

The main duty to manage asbestos is described in detail in regulation 4. This regulation covers the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises. It requires dutyholders to identify the location and condition of asbestos in non-domestic premises or common parts of multi-occupancy domestic premises and to manage the risk to prevent harm to workers and building occupants.

Detailed guidance on the Control of Asbestos Regulations

The Approved Code of Practice and guidance sets out the regulations and your legal duties, and gives practical advice on how to comply with them.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH)

The COSHH regulations require employers to prevent or control worker exposure to harmful substances using effective risk management and good control practices for hazardous substances.

In people’s homes, the duty to manage asbestos under regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations does not apply but COSHH will.

The Approved Code of Practice and guidance provides practical advice to help dutyholders comply with the requirements of COSHH.

Health and Safety at Work etc Act

The Health and Safety at Work Act (HSW Act) places general duties on employers such as landlords of domestic premises, and some self-employed people, to do what is ‘reasonably practicable’ to ensure the health and safety of anyone who may be affected by their work, such as tenants.

This means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control it in terms of money, time or trouble.

The general duties under the HSW Act apply when the duty to manage asbestos does not. This ensures that the same levels of health and safety are met.

In owner-occupied (privately owned) domestic properties, the owners are not legally responsible for risks to contractors from asbestos, as the owners themselves are not engaged in any work activity.

More on the Health and Safety at Work Act

Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM)

These regulations include requirements for clients and principal designers to work together in assessing the adequacy of existing information, including an asbestos survey, before starting any construction project.

The regulations also require information on asbestos-containing materials to be provided at an early stage as part of a package of information about health and safety risks.

More information on the CDM Regulations

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

Exposure to asbestos is reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) when a work activity causes the accidental release or escape of asbestos fibres into the air in sufficient quantity to cause damage to health.

If work on asbestos is done without suitable controls, or precautions fail to control exposure, these are ‘dangerous occurrences’ under RIDDOR and should be reported.

At Complisafe we can provide the following services:

Asbestos Surveys – Management and Refurbishment and Demolition

Asbestos Awareness Training on line from £18+VAT per person.