The government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched the ‘Asbestos – Your Duty’ campaign to highlight the health-risks associated with asbestos in buildings, and to raise awareness within the construction industry about the legal duty to manage these risks.
The role of dutyholders
If you’re responsible for a building’s maintenance or repair, you have a legal role as a ‘dutyholder’ (as does the building’s owner or landlord) with accountability for asbestos assessment and management on site. It’s your obligation to ensure compliance with asbestos regulations and protect everyone in the building from the risks of exposure - whether they’re one of your co-workers, a subcontractor or are using the building in other ways.
This responsibility applies to the common areas of residential buildings, like lobbies, stairwells, lifts and lift-shafts, as well as public buildings including hospitals, schools, shops, offices and factories.
So, if you work in public buildings or buildings with communal areas, it’s a good idea to remind yourself about what to do. HSE recommends the following steps to comply with your legal duty:
- Find out if asbestos could be present in the building.
- Arrange an asbestos survey.
- Put a register together and assess the risks from the asbestos.
- Write up your asbestos management plan.
- Follow up by putting your plan into action.
- Monitor and communicate on a continual basis.
HSE’s ‘Asbestos – Your Duty’ campaign provides further resources to help you understand this role, including updated web pages, new templates (including an asbestos management plan template) and informative videos – all of which can be found on the HSE website.
Answer these simple questions to find out if it’s your legal duty to manage asbestos.
Asbestos awareness training for FMB members
FMB members have access to our online learning portal, which both members and their employees can use for Continued Professional Development (CPD). This includes access to asbestos awareness training.
Log in to MyFMB to visit the learning portal.
Stay compliant with H&S guidance from Safety Plus
The FMB partners with the Building Safety Group, offering our members based in England and Wales their Safety Plus Health and Safety software at a reduced monthly cost. Members can access over 115 H&S documents, written specifically with builders in mind, including risk assessment templates, COSHH and method statements. You’ll also benefit from a dedicated H&S helpline. Find out more about Safety Plus.
