Call us: 01934 853 803

Latest News

4th November 2011

The changes are being made to bring UK asbestos regulations in line with the EC directive on asbestos.

The revised regulations will mean that more employers carrying out some types of lower risk, short duration maintenance and repair work with asbestos will have to comply with requirements to notify of asbestos work, keep records and carry out medical examinations for workers.

In the future, there will be three categories of work with asbestos as opposed to two:

1) Licensed works

As now, duty holders will have to comply with all of the following requirements:

  • Hold a licence
  • Have arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies.
  • Designate asbestos areas
  • Notify the relevant enforcing authority of work with asbestos
  • Carry out medical examinations for workers
  • Maintain a register for each worker of the type and duration of work done with asbestos.

A new definition of “licensed works” is being introduced for clarity and is set out in the consultation document.

2) Non-licensed works

As now, duty holders will be exempt from requirements 1 to 6 above.

3) Notifiable non-licensed works

This is a new category. Duty holders will be exempt from requirements 1 to 3 above but will be required to comply with requirements 4 to 6. Notification will be required before work starts and medical examinations will need to be carried out before exposure begins and then at least every three years.

The category is effectively created by new regulation 3(2) (see below), which describes the works exempted from requirements 4 to 6 above, and in particular, the inclusion of the wording italicised below in regulation 3(2)(c). Such wording appears in the EC directive but not in CAR 2006. It has to be added to the new regulations to ensure full implementation of the EC directive.

New regulation 3(2) reads: “Regulations 9 (notification of work with asbestos) and 22 (health records and medical surveillance) do not apply where:

  • The exposure of employees to asbestos is sporadic and of low intensity; and
  • It is clear from risk assessment that exposure to asbestos will not exceed the control limit; and
  • The work involves: short, non-continuous maintenance activities in which only non-friable materials are handled, or
  • removal without deterioration of non-degraded materials in which the asbestos fibres are firmly linked in a matrix, or
  • encapsulation or sealing of asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition, or
  • air monitoring and control, and the collection and analysis of samples to ascertain whether a specific material contains asbestos.”

The terms “non-friable” or “without deterioration of non-degraded materials” will not be defined in the regulations but the HSE plans to issue guidance to help duty holders understand how the changes will work in practice.

What is not changing?

The core requirements of the regulations to identify asbestos; carry out risk assessments; have in place suitable measures to control exposure; and provide appropriate training will continue to apply to all work with asbestos and are not affected by the proposed changes.

Your Input

Industry professionals involved in the management of asbestos risk on a day-to-day basis should look at the new proposals in detail and register for an online alert for the second consultation on the terms of what is likely to be the all-important HSE guidance on how the new regulations will work in practice. Visit the HSE website at hse.gov.uk.

28th November 2007

Asbestos, Legionella, Gas, Electric, Fire Safety along with Civil and Criminal Liability issues were amongst the topics covered in the concentrated day.

The event was run in conjunction with Forbes Solicitors and the day was very well received by all the 150 delegates who attended.

7th September 2007

This course is particularly useful for professional clients who are keen to maintain CPD through recognised qualifications. Of course, this award can be undertaken by anybody who wishes. Certificates are issued by the RSPH complete with their logo.

For more details of the course take a look at the syllabus here.

Watch this space for NIACS courses containing the RSPH's Level-3 Certificate in Asbestos Inspection Procedures…the new, superior P402!

9th August 2007

We are now able to offer removal courses for Non-Licensable Asbestos products at very competetive rates. Once delegates have undertaken Asbestos Awareness Training (now a mandatory legal requirement) we can train them up to work with or remove certain Asbestos products. Don't worry if your delegates don't hold an Awareness Certificate – we can provide training for this.

This course is vitally important where delegates have to work with Asbestos during their day-to-day work. If your workers touch Artex, lift Asbestos Ceiling Tiles, Remove Asbestos Cement Products or Vinyl Floor Tiles etc they will need this training.

With both In-House options and external courses for individuals we are sure to be able to satisfy your needs.

11th May 2007

Although this is not a specific requirement for Asbestos Awareness Training, we thought it may just add some peace of mind to prospective clients.

We paid for Alan Holden, Regional Manager for Blues Consultants Ltd in the South-West, who has over 15 years experience of Asbestos to attend one of our courses.

“The Asbestos Training delivered by [you] is both informative and interactive. Their training exceeds the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. I for one feel that delegates attending one of their courses gain relevant advice that will help them avoid the dangers of Asbestos.”

Alan Holden – Regional Manager for Blues Consultants Ltd

Page 1 of 212