The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new campaign 'Asbestos: Your Duty' which aims to improve understanding of the legal duty to manage asbestos. It encourages anyone with responsibilities for buildings, such as schools, to do everything necessary to comply with the law and prevent exposure to the dangerous substance.
People who visit or work in these buildings should not be exposed if asbestos is properly contained, but it can become dangerous when disturbed or damaged. Organisations responsible for premises where there is a risk of asbestos being present should carry out the necessary checks and understand their legal responsibilities.
Updated information, new template documents (including an asbestos management plan template), and explanatory videos can be found on the HSE’s website to help anyone who is unsure of their legal duties or who just need to refresh themselves on what is legally required.
Following on from the campaign in September 2022, the HSE will continue to check how asbestos is managed in schools and require those responsible for managing the risks to ensure they have the right arrangements in place.
Asbestos exposure in Great Britain is still the single greatest cause of work-related illness and deaths due to exposures decades ago. Schools who have buildings which contain asbestos should remind themselves of their duties and refer to the HSE’s website for further information on how they can proactively manage their buildings and keep people safe from exposure.
Browne Jacobson can advise if you require any assistance with determining who is the responsible person, your legal and statutory duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 , or how you can best manage the presence of asbestos within your organisation.
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