Building owners in the UK are struggling to meet a basic new asbestos regulation

Due to its strength, durability, and resistance to fire and water, asbestos was widely used in building products until the 1990s. However, after some researches, Worksafe now reports asbestos as being world’s number one killer in the workplace and believe around 170 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases.

The Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 were introduced to try and protect the workers as possible from exposure to asbestos fibers in the workplace. Currently, building owners or occupiers who manage or control a workplace must ensure and have made clear that asbestos or asbestos-containing materials are identified at the workplace. Also, after introducing these rules and regulations some industrial building owners are struggling to meet a basic necessity to have an asbestos management plan to deal with the hazardous material if it is found in their buildings. Asbestos management is really important to those who deal with asbestos continuously.

Building owners and occupiers are currently required to conduct an asbestos survey of all buildings in their workplace. When asbestos is found, the building owner and occupier must keep a record of the location and condition of the asbestos, update their risk register indicating the presence and location of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. The Health and Safety at Work Regulations on asbestos mean that property owners with a property which is operating as a workplace must not only identify whether asbestos is present but have an asbestos management plan in place.

New measures to prevent asbestos contamination during renovations and demolitions could prove costly for building owners, but industry leaders say change is well overdue. Health and safety consultants report a big jump in demand for asbestos surveys of commercial buildings, but they're also struggling to find the suitably qualified staff to do the work.

An asbestos management plan is a written plan, which must contain information about:

• The identification of asbestos or asbestos-containing material in the site, * The decisions, including reasons, on how the risk arising from the asbestos is to be managed * The procedures for detailing incidents or emergencies involving asbestos or asbestos-containing material in the workplace; and * Information and training that will be provided to the workers. * Roles and responsibilities; and * Health monitoring regularly in the workplace.

The new regulations mainly apply to commercial properties, but they also apply to residential properties in certain situations, for example, if the property is undergoing renovation, repair or maintenance work.

Olive Learning is a leading provider of compliance based eLearning courses for the UK and Ireland marketplace.