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Causing more than 200,000 deaths per year globally, asbestos remains one of the most dangerous occupational health hazards encountered by workers.
The long-term effects of asbestos exposure can be invisible or present only after many years, making it a unique workplace health hazard. As such, there are strict regulations for workers handling and managing asbestos in the workplace.
In this guide, uncover the importance of safely managing asbestos in the workplace and the duty employers have under the Control Of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
What is asbestos and why is it dangerous?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that were once widely used in construction because of their strength, insulating properties and resistance to heat.
Before the health risks associated with asbestos were fully understood, asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were commonly used across industrial, commercial and residential buildings. They could be found in areas and materials including:
Insulation and pipe lagging
Asbestos insulating board (AIB)
Sprayed coatings
Ceiling and floor tiles
Roofing materials and cement products
Textured coatings
Boilers, ducts and service areas
Older industrial equipment
Because asbestos was used so extensively, it is still present in some buildings today. This is particularly relevant for buildings constructed or refurbished pre-2000, including workplaces, schools, hospitals, and industrial premises.
The UK banned the importation, supply, and use of all forms of asbestos by 1999. However, the presence of existing asbestos-containing materials means workers can still be at risk of exposure today.
Asbestos generally becomes a health risk when materials containing it are damaged or disturbed. This can release tiny asbestos fibers into the air, which can then be inhaled. Workers carrying out maintenance, refurbishment, construction and demolition work can therefore be particularly at risk if the presence of asbestos has not been identified and properly managed.
All six forms of asbestos are classified as carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization (WHO). Exposure to asbestos can cause serious and potentially fatal diseases, including:
Mesothelioma
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestosis
Pleural disease
The effects of asbestos exposure can also take many years to appear, meaning a person may not develop symptoms until decades after their initial exposure.
For employers, this makes identifying, assessing and managing the risk of asbestos exposure an important part of protecting workers. In the UK, employers and those responsible for certain premises may also have specific legal duties regarding asbestos.
What does the law say?
Due to the extremely hazardous nature of asbestos and the risks associated with exposure, The Control Of Asbestos Regulations 2012 set out the legal requirements for managing asbestos risks and protecting people from exposure at work.
These asbestos health and safety regulations offer employers the information they must follow when handling any remaining asbestos found in buildings.
The regulations outline:
The duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic buildings
How to identify the presence of asbestos
The risk assessment process for work carried out on a building containing asbestos
Licensing and notification requirements
Control measures and PPE
Storage and removal of asbestos and asbestos waste
Regulation 4: the duty to manage asbestos
The Regulations require the 'duty holder' to take on the responsibilities. This duty holder could be the building owner, the landlord of the premises or the person/organisation responsible for maintaining or repairing the building.
The role of the duty holder is key in identifying and assessing the risks, managing the safe handling of ACMs and preventing harmful exposure.
The HSE says duty holders must identify the location and condition of ACMs, assess exposure risks, maintain records, prepare and implement an asbestos management plan, monitor ACMs and provide relevant information to people who could disturb them.
Regulation 10: information, instruction and training
Under Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, employers must provide appropriate information, instruction and training to employees who are, or may be, exposed to asbestos during their work.
This includes workers who may encounter asbestos-containing materials during maintenance, refurbishment, construction, or demolition activities.
Training should help workers understand the health risks associated with asbestos, recognise where asbestos-containing materials may be present, and know how to avoid exposure.
The level of training required depends on the work being carried out. Asbestos awareness training is appropriate for workers who may encounter asbestos but are not expected to disturb it. Those carrying out work that could disturb asbestos require additional, task-specific training.
Employers should also ensure workers receive relevant information about the location and condition of known or suspected asbestos-containing materials before starting work.
How to manage asbestos risks
By putting the guidance and the legal requirements into simple actionable steps, businesses can follow these to effectively manage asbestos risks:
Identify who is responsible for managing asbestos
First, establish who has responsibility for the maintenance or repair of the premises and therefore who may be the asbestos duty holder. Depending on the arrangements for the building, responsibility may be shared between more than one party.
Identify and assess asbestos-containing materials
Determine whether asbestos is present or could be present within the premises. An appropriate asbestos survey can help identify the location and condition of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The findings should be recorded in an asbestos register and used to assess the likelihood of the materials being disturbed.
Where ACMs are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, HSE guidance states that it is usually safer to leave them in place and manage them rather than automatically removing them.
Create an asbestos management plan
Use the findings of the assessment to create a written asbestos management plan. This should set out how identified risks will be managed, including any necessary remedial work and arrangements for regularly monitoring the condition of ACMs.
The asbestos register and management plan should be kept up to date as circumstances or the condition of materials change.
Inform and train workers
Employees, maintenance workers and contractors who could encounter asbestos should be given relevant information about its location and condition before starting work. Employers should also provide appropriate asbestos information, instruction and training to workers who could be exposed.
Asbestos awareness training can help workers understand the risks and recognise situations where asbestos could be disturbed. However, awareness training alone does not qualify workers to carry out work on asbestos-containing materials.
Use competent specialists where necessary
Where asbestos requires further investigation, repair or removal, duty holders should obtain appropriate competent specialist advice. Depending on the type of asbestos and work involved, additional legal requirements may apply.
Managing asbestos should also be an ongoing process rather than a one-off exercise. Duty holders should continue monitoring ACMs, reviewing their management arrangements, and updating records where necessary.
How risk management solutions can help support compliance
With digital tools to manage risks int he workplace and to conduct thorough risk assessments, businesses can support compliance with Asbestos Regulations.
BrightSafe provides an all-in-one health and safety software solution for a wide range of industries. From construction to manufacturing, business owners can access risk assessment templates, tailored asbestos awareness online training, and hazard management tools to reduce the risks associated with asbestos exposure.
Inform employees, review the risks, and control hazards in your workplace with health and safety software.
Get started today with a free demo.