REGULATIONS
The Health and safety at Work Act (1974) places duties on employers and self employed people to provide, as far as reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of all staff and employees and other persons out side the scope of their employment, which may be directly or indirectly affected by any of their undertakings. They must also ensure that the premises and any plant or installation are safe and present no health risk from substances such as asbestos. The Acts and Regulations on page two gives reference to regulations, which apply to the Management of Asbestos in Buildings.

THE CONTROL OF ASBESTOS AT WORK REGULATIONS
Any and all work involving Asbestos Containing materials is controlled under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) Act 1987, amended 1992, 1998, 2002 and the supporting ACOPs (The Approved Code of Practice and Guidance). These regulations are made under the Health and Safety at Work 1974 and the design of these regulations is to minimise the exposure of asbestos fibres to any persons in that premises. The approved code of practices (ACOPs) and several guidance notes have been issued by the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive, for building managers, property managements and employees to comply with the regulations. Generically, projects undertaken which include working with asbestos types like sprayed coating, thermal insulations (pipework, boilers coatings), millboard or insulation board means you must be a licensed contractor under The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983, amended 1998, 2002 Any work undertaken by removing or disturbing these materials in areas in or outside a building managed by employers or by property managements without an Asbestos Removals License may be an offence. Whoever manages the buildings has the ultimate responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

COMPLIANCE WITH LEGISLATION
An asbestos register that follows the guidelines set out in the MDHS 100 and the Control of asbestos at work regulations 2002, complying with the legal requirements (The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974) and taking responsible actions towards health and safety issues will become an effective addition to the companies Health and Safety procedures and Asbestos Management Programme.

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH RISKS
Making the staff asbestos aware will reduce accidents from occurring, and advertising the use and availability of an asbestos register will reduce asbestos exposures to staff, contractual workers, and any visitors that may be on the premises.

Any information given concerning asbestos should be noted and can be fed back into the management plan, e.g. (areas continually damaged can be given priority for removal).

Resources required will vary on the size of the premises and the quantity of the asbestos, the register is a vital part of the asbestos management and risk assessment programme, if the approach is methodical and thorough, the register will be a very reliable source of information. A well maintained comprehensive asbestos register gives a central source of information about asbestos materials within the premises; the register also gives information on Health and Safety.