Asbestos surveys & asbestos management plans:  key facts 

(Adapted from A comprehensive guide to managing asbestos in premises, HSG227)

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• Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 is a duty to manage, not a duty to survey.

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• A survey is not always necessary, but asbestos-containing materials must be managed.

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• A bad survey is worse than not carrying out a survey.

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• If you don't manage asbestos in your premises, you could be putting your employees' and other people's health at risk.

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• Managing asbestos materials means maintaining them in good condition to protect those who may be exposed:

  • during maintenance and building activity (eg electricians, plumbers, etc); and

  • during normal occupancy of the building from damaged and deteriorated materials.

 

• Exposure occurs when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, releasing fibres that become airborne and may be breathed in.

 

• An Asbestos Management Plan:

  • is a way of ensuring that employees and others do not disturb any asbestos-containing materials;

  • can take many forms and need not be complex, but it does need to be effective.

 

• Asbestos-containing materials in good condition should be left in place and managed.

 

• Damaged or deteriorated asbestos materials should be repaired or removed, or isolated until remedial action can be taken.

 

• Most work with asbestos requires a licence, but some minor works may be carried out if the correct precautions are taken.

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