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Asbestos has been used around the world and particularly in the UK within the construction of many of the buildings we frequent from schools and hospitals to industrial sites where the use of asbestos was widely introduced after World War II.
Asbestos was banned in 1999 in the UK and many parts of Europe, however it is still present inside 1.5 million buildings in the UK, including schools and hospitals let alone sites and ageing assets that support other industries.
It is important to understand that asbestos is still a danger to the workplace for many people and with exposure it is also the UK’s single greatest cause of work-related deaths.
Asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma is the only form of cancer that is curable through prevention, therefore the awareness and management of asbestos is something that all employers and employees need to take seriously, hence the introduction of legislation for the “Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012“.
So what do you need to do as a duty holder?
As governed by the legislation, the duty holder needs to ensure that they monitor and management asbestos containing materials (ACM) in and around their respective assets and do so in a manner where an accurate record can be kept for each ACM.
This is where an asbestos management plan or asbestos register comes into play, it is within this that the duty holder is able to identify the ACMs, perform a risk analysis, identify the asbestos type and control and manage the risks.
So what if we do nothing?
A duty holder that does not have an asbestos management plan in place could be fined up to £20,000 or imprisoned up to six months.
A serious breach of the regulations could result in an unlimited fine and/or a two-year prison sentence.
How can Elisian help?
In working with the offshore industry for many years, Elisian have developed a hazard mapping solution that provides assurance and compliance for the management of asbestos and therefore will ensure that everyone working around an asset is aware of where the asbestos is and what safety precautions need to be taken.
If you would like to find out more or to arrange a demo, please get in touch.