Industry Approved Asbestos Awareness

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Asbestos Awareness

If you have no intention of removing asbestos but work on buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000, asbestos could be present. You will need awareness training so you know how to avoid the risks.

Asbestos awareness training should be given to employees whose work could foreseeably disturb the fabric of a building and expose them to asbestos or who supervise or influence the work.

In particular, it should be given to those workers in the refurbishment, maintenance and allied trades where it is foreseeable that ACMs may become exposed during their work. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Demolition workers
  • Construction workers
  • General maintenance staff
  • Electricians
  • Plumbers
  • Gas fitters
  • Painters and decorators
  • Joiners
  • Shop fitters
  • Plasterers
  • Roofers
  • Heating and ventilation engineers
  • Telecommunication engineers
  • Computer and data installers
  • Fire and burglar alarm installers
  • Architects, building surveyors and other such professionals

This requirement does not apply where the employer can demonstrate that work will only be carried out in or on premises free of ACMs. This information should be available as a result of the assessment made by the dutyholder under the duty to manage in regulation 4 and the duty on the employer to identify the presence of asbestos in regulation 5.

Asbestos awareness will not prepare employees or self-employed contractors to carry out work with ACMs. Awareness training is only intended to help employees avoid carrying out work that will disturb asbestos or ACMs.

If work is planned that will disturb ACMs, further information, instruction and training appropriate to the work being done will be needed.

For further information please refer to the ACoP (L143 – Second Edition) paragraphs 232-236

Categorised in: Health & Safety