Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (reg 10), asbestos awareness training is a legal requirenment for workers in all trades that are likely to be exposed to asbestos.
For asbestos removal work specific additional training is required.
The duty to manage asbestos is contained in regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. It requires the person who has the duty (ie the “dutyholder”) to:
Take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in non-domestic premises, and if so, its amount, where it is and what condition it is in;
Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not;
Make, and keep up-to-date, a record of the location and condition of the asbestos containing materials – or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos;
Assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from the materials identified;
Prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed;
Take the necessary steps to put the plan into action;
Periodically review and monitor the plan and the arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains relevant and up-to-date; and
Provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them.
There is also a requirement on anyone to co-operate as far as is necessary to allow the dutyholder to comply with the above requirements.
