Introduction
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have announced that their inspectors are scheduled to visit the head offices of councils throughout the United Kingdom to ensure effective management of asbestos risks for public safety.
During these visits, inspections will be conducted at various sites within each council's property portfolio. This initiative builds upon previous inspection campaigns that targeted hospitals and schools.
Buildings constructed prior to the year 2000, particularly those constructed between 1950 and 1980, when asbestos usage in construction peaked, are required to conduct the required inspections, comprehend their legal obligations, and take proactive measures to manage any asbestos they are in charge of.
The HSE will visit a variety of buildings in the council stock to verify that the proper procedures are in place for managing asbestos. Before visiting, HSE inspectors will contact the local government to set up a time and date that works for them.
The responsibility to manage asbestos encompasses a wide range of buildings, some overseen by HSE and others by local authorities.
Legislation
The inspections will evaluate how local authorities are handling asbestos risks in their buildings and complying with the duty to manage requirements under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR).
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) is a crucial piece of UK legislation aimed at safeguarding individuals from the dangers of asbestos exposure. It builds upon previous laws to enhance regulations, ensuring stricter controls over asbestos handling and removal. Essentially, CAR 2012 mandates proper management of asbestos risks in any location where the material is found, particularly in workplaces and public buildings. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces this legislation, overseeing compliance and imposing penalties for any violations.
Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) mandates the management of asbestos in non-domestic premises.
Duty Holder Responsibilities
This regulation is applicable to all duty holders. employers, building owners, landlords, and agents. The duty holder is the person or organisation that is responsible for maintaining or repairing the premises. This could be the owner, but it could also be the occupier, landlord, sub-lessor, or managing agent.
The duty holder is responsible for assessing the presence and condition of asbestos, creating a record of its location and condition, evaluating the associated risks, devising a management plan, implementing it, reviewing and monitoring it, and providing relevant information to individuals likely to work on or disturb asbestos.
Key Terms
Duty to Manage Asbestos: Owners of non-domestic properties must identify asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and manage associated risks through assessments, management plans, and record updates.
Asbestos Surveys: Comprehensive surveys are necessary to pinpoint ACMs, especially before construction or renovation projects.
Work Categories: Asbestos-related work is classified into licensed work (requiring licensed contractors), notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW), and non-licensed work (NLW).
Training Requirements: Employees and contractors must undergo training to recognize and handle asbestos risks safely. –
Record-Keeping: Documentation of all asbestos survey results and actions taken must be maintained.
How can local authorities (LAs) prepare for these inspections?
Before the inspections, LAs might want to examine their current setup and ensure that they are fulfilling their obligations under CAR, which include the following:
- Take reasonable measures to determine whether their buildings contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), and if so, how much, where, and in what condition.
- Unless there is compelling evidence to the contrary, assume that materials contain asbestos.
- Create and maintain an accurate record of the location and state of any ACMs or materials thought to contain asbestos.
- Determine the possibility (risk) that anyone could be exposed to fibres from the materials that have been identified.
- Create an asbestos management plan (AMP) that outlines the specifics of how these materials' risks will be controlled.
- Implement the plan by taking the required actions.
- To keep the plan and arrangements current and relevant, periodically assess and monitor them and take appropriate action based on the results.
- Inform anybody who may be responsible for working on or disturbing the materials of their location and state.
More Information
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