HSE’s 'Asbestos – Your Duty' campaign targets those responsible for managing asbestos in buildings (duty holders).
Buildings that people use in their daily lives, such as workplaces, schools and hospitals are the focus of a new campaign to keep people safe from asbestos.
The dangerous material was banned from construction 25 years ago
Asbestos may still be present in buildings built before 2000
New HSE campaign emphasises legal duties to manage asbestos
Asbestos: Your Duty was launched on the 15th of January, it aims to improve understanding of what the legal duty to manage asbestos involves.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) wants anyone with responsibilities for buildings to do everything they must do to comply with the law and prevent exposure to this dangerous substance, which was widely used in post-war construction before it was completely banned in 1999.
The legal duty to manage asbestos covers a wide range of buildings such as museums, schools, hospitals, and places of worship, as well as workplaces like offices and factories.
Businesses and organisations responsible for premises built before the turn of the century, and especially those between 1950 and 1980 when the use of asbestos in construction was at its peak, must carry out the necessary checks and understand their legal responsibilities.
People who visit or work in these buildings will not be exposed if asbestos is properly contained. But it can become dangerous when disturbed or damaged.
Updated information, new templates (including an asbestos management plan template), and explanatory videos can be found on HSE’s website to help anyone who is unsure of their legal duties – or just need to refresh themselves – on what they need to do.
HSE will check how asbestos is managed when visiting a range of buildings – like schools and hospitals – requiring those responsible for managing asbestos risks to ensure they have the right arrangements in place.
Where Asbestos Hides:
NEW poster from HSE):
NEW poster from HSE (industrial):
Asbestos Awareness eLearning Training:
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