The Duty to manage Asbestos

Many people have worries about asbestos, but undisturbed asbestos usually poses no problems. However, according to the HSE Asbestos is “The greatest single cause of work related deaths in the UK”

The Duty to manage Asbestos in Non-Domestic Premises became law on 21st May 2004. You don’t have to remove asbestos. The HSE advises not to remove asbestos unnecessarily – removing it can be more dangerous than leaving it in place and managing it.

Encapsulation – the alternative to removal

We can coat your roof with a tough long lasting membrane that completely covers the asbestos. Encapsulation has a number of advantages over removal:

• Less costly
• No need to dispose of asbestos
• Reduced disruption – The roof is not removed
• Quicker process
• Less hazardous - Asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed

Helping you meet your legal requirements

The consequences of failing to comply with the legislation include penalties such as:

• Closure of work area or entire site by H.S.E. inspectors.
• Fines of up to £20,000 for individuals and unlimited finance for companies.
• Imprisonment of individuals responsible for up to two years.
• Disqualification of Directors.

For more information please visit the Health & Safety Executive website. >Click here

Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 >Click here

What premises are affected?

All non-domestic premises are covered. Such premises include all industrial, commercial or public buildings such as factories, warehouses, offices, shops, hospitals and schools.

Non-domestic premises also include those ‘common’ areas of certain domestic premises: purpose-built flats or houses converted into flats. The common areas of such domestic premises might include foyers, corridors, lifts and lift-shafts, staircases, roof spaces, gardens, yards, outhouses and garages – but would not include the flat itself. Such common areas would not include rooms within a private residence that are shared by more than one household such as bathrooms, kitchens etc in shared houses and communal dining rooms and lounges in sheltered accommodation.