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Asbestos exposure is linked to the development of a range of health conditions including asbestosis and mesothelioma. As a result, it is now governed by strict regulations in the UK, and responsibility for managing asbestos to prevent exposure is in the hands of the ‘Duty Holder’ and this is most commonly:
• Property owners and managers
• Employers
• Those responsible for the maintenance of the building
EMS provide an insight into who is responsible for managing asbestos in the workplace and preventing accidental disturbance of asbestos. What to do should you suspect asbestos in a building, drawing up an asbestos management plan and how EMS can help.
To ensure you are fulfilling your responsibilities for asbestos management, speak to our experienced team today about our asbestos consultancy services. Call 0800 3581100 now.
There is no working exposure limit for asbestos. There is no safe limit of exposure to asbestos fibres.
Responsibility for controlling asbestos in the workplace falls primarily to the duty holder, although others may share the duty.
Under the CAR, they must: Implement an asbestos management plan which will contain details of how asbestos will be located, risk assessed and recorded on a site. This is normally by undertaking an asbestos management survey. The plan will then set out how the asbestos will be monitored and what mitigations will be put into place to prevent accidental disturbance of the and ACM. The plan shall set out clear lines of responsibilities including how frequently reinspections are required and who will undertake them.
Property owners, managers and consultants may all be responsible for helping to prevent exposure to asbestos in the workplace.
Contractors and people undertaking work also have a responsibility to follow the instructions given onsite and adhere to the procedures in the management plan.
The HSE enforce regulations including the CAR and Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and ensure that these are correctly implemented. If an exposure incident occurs this may be reportable under RIDDOR - the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Any property constructed before 2000 could contain asbestos and it should be assumed that it does until proven otherwise and by law requires an asbestos management plan.
The first step of asbestos management is to identify and locate asbestos within the property and this should be done by contacting a competent asbestos consultancy to arrange a survey. They will be able to safely and accurately determine the presence of any ACMs as well as provide a report containing and asbestos register, photographs and annotated plan. The surveyors should also be able to provide guidance on the next steps.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, duty holders (property owners, landlords and employers) are required to have an asbestos management plan for all their buildings that were built prior to 2000.
This plan must include:
• Allocation of clear responsibilities for the management of asbestos.
• The location and condition of any asbestos in the building (asbestos register)
• How the ongoing monitoring the condition of the ACMs will be undertaken.
• Maintaining the condition of or removing ACMs
• How the information will be distributed to relevant people including those using the building and particularly those likely to disturb the fabric of the building (contractors, maintenance staff etc.).
At EMS, we provide a comprehensive range of asbestos consultancy services including comprehensive, legally compliant asbestos management plans. EMS have experience writing and implementing asbestos management plans for 1000+ portfolios on behalf of international retail clients, to small individual factories, public buildings including schools & hospitals or one-off management plans for private requirements. Get in touch with EMS to discuss your requirements now.
EMS offers asbestos surveys, consultancy, air testing and asbestos removals across the UK. Wherever you are based, we can help.
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, Regulations 2002) does not apply to asbestos. Asbestos is covered under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Asbestos is governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and a range of asbestos specific HSE Guidance notes. Other extensive legislation exists to protect workers in the workplace most notably the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, both which place responsibilities on employers to protect employees.
Since 2003, EMS has been helping building owners & managers, landlords, employers and property owners meet their legal obligations and protect employees, maintenance contractors and building occupants from asbestos exposure. As well as asbestos management surveys, asbestos refurbishment surveys, asbestos demolition surveys and asbestos re-inspection surveys, we offer non-licensed asbestos removals, air testing, bulk sampling, specialised consultancy and training and assistance with asbestos management plans. We also have an in-house laboratory for sample analysis.
EMS have national reach as well as offices and laboratories in key locations. To discuss your asbestos management, speak to our team today by calling 0800 3581100, emailing info@emsgroupuk.com or completing our contact form.
