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 CONTROL OF ASBESTOS AT WORK REGULATIONS
Any and all
work involving Asbestos Containing materials is controlled under the Control of
Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2006 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 a 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. Projects undertaken
which include working with asbestos types like sprayed coating, thermal
insulations (e.g. insulations, coatings, millboard or insulation board) means
you must be a licensed contractor under CAR 2006. 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 criteria set out in HSG264 and complies with the legal
requirements will become an effective addition to a company's heath and safety
policy by contributing accurate information towards the management of any
asbestos in their premises.
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.
