Employers’ Duty on Asbestos at Work

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Section (2), every employer is required to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees. This will include dealing with asbestos.
Before commencing any work, which is likely to expose any of their employees to asbestos, employers must, under the Control of Asbestos at Work (Amendments) Regulations 1992:

IDENTIFY the type of asbestos involved in the work (Regulation 4);

ASSESS the likely exposure and set out steps to reduce to the lowest level (Regulation 5);

NOTIFY the enforcing authority either Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or Environmental Health Officer (EHO) 28 days before work commences (Regulation 6);

INFORM, INSTRUCT AND TRAIN employees who are likely to be exposed (Regulation 7); and

PREVENT the spread of asbestos from any place where work on asbestos is carried out (Regulation 12).

Under the Asbestos (licensing) Regulation 1983 a licence MUST be issued to an asbestos remover by the HSE (unless the employer is deemed exempt for a small number of reasons).

ASBESTOS REMAINS PRESENT IN MANY WORKPLACES
This brief notes are meant to help you in the event you suspect asbestos is present or asbestos removal is taking place.

Produced by the GMB, London Region,
Thorne House, 152 Brent Street, Hendon. NW4 2DP
Tel: 020 8202 8272
Fax: 020 8202 2893