Top Tip Tuesday - Asbestos

A – ASBESTOS

Many people are already aware that asbestos is currently the biggest occupational health issue globally and the United Kingdom are not excluded from the drastic figures that continue to be published.

Top tips to protect your employees and your business is mainly around surveys and training.

• Confirm if the building you occupy or manage was built before the year 2000. If you’re not sure, check the legal documents you received when you purchased the building. If you’re renting, check the lease agreement.
• Arrange an Asbestos Management survey but make sure you select a competent contractor. This will confirm where asbestos may be present within your building and advise you how to manage it. They make take samples to confirm the type of asbestos.
• If you are carrying out any penetration of walls, partitions etc, you will require a Refurbishment and Demolition survey (R&D). Don’t go breaking into walls without doing this first.
• Make sure you act on the advice given by the management survey report. Don’t just ignore it and file it.
• Ensure your employees are trained. UKATA courses are the most recognised. Be careful just relying on online courses as this can be frowned upon. Use online training as the occasional refresher training but arrange classroom training initially as this will guarantee your employees get all the right information. Be aware your employees may need non-licensed training.

Not sure what you need? Contact us as we are happy to advise and guide you.