Do I Need an Asbestos Management Plan?

Understanding what asbestos is and recognising its potential risks is crucial for the safety of occupants and workers alike.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have remarkable resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals and high tensile strength. Asbestos has found its way into a multitude of products because of its water insolubility and durability. Its capacity to be woven into fabrics or mixed with cement has made asbestos a versatile component in numerous manufacturing and construction projects. However, when compelling evidence connected asbestos fibres to grave health issues, its widespread use was discontinued.

Dangers and health risks of asbestos

Extensive documentation has linked asbestos exposure to a range of severe diseases. Asbestos fibres, when inhaled, can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the lung and abdominal linings), and asbestosis, a chronic lung condition.

In the UK, asbestos remains the leading cause of work-related deaths, with approximately 5,000 fatalities annually. Symptoms of asbestos-related health issues often mirror those related to other conditions, which can complicate diagnosis. For instance, asbestos-related lung cancer shares characteristics with cancers caused by smoking. The latency period between exposure and illness onset can span decades, making it a persistent concern for those exposed to asbestos in the past and harder to diagnose.

Asbestos management plans and their importance

An asbestos management plan outlines protocols to control the risks posed by asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on your property.

It’s not only a legal requirement but also crucial for ensuring safe management of asbestos risks. Its presence reassures employees and customers that the building is in full compliance with the law while offering tangible protection from health hazards. No construction, demolition, or maintenance work should proceed without such a plan, regardless of the size or type of the premises.

Implementing an asbestos management plan is, therefore, an essential element in ensuring property owners and managers meet their legal obligations and protect the wellbeing of building occupants. This document ensures a clear, actionable strategy for dealing with potential asbestos risks and reflects a profound commitment to health, safety, and compliance with UK regulations.

Developing an asbestos management plan

Creating a comprehensive asbestos management plan is an essential step for ensuring the safety of individuals who might come into contact with asbestos in non-domestic premises. This is particularly crucial because buildings constructed before 2000 are more likely to contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012) mandate that the designated duty holder formulate an effective plan detailing how to manage asbestos risks, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

Duty-holders without an asbestos management plan could face a fine of up to £20,000 or up to 6 months imprisonment. More serious breaches of regulations result in unlimited fines and up to two years of imprisonment. Non-compliance includes exposing individuals to asbestos risk.

Components and details of an asbestos management plan

The asbestos management plan must be precise and coherent, specifying several key components:

1. Identification of the duty holder responsible for managing asbestos, including their name and job title.
2. A detailed asbestos register with clear information about the locations of ACMs within the premises and areas not inspected.
3. A clearly defined schedule for monitoring the condition of ACMs.
4. The accessibility of the plan for staff, tradesmen, and visitors to the property.
5. Clearly defined procedures for any work involving ACMs, including repair, maintenance, or removal tasks.
6. Control arrangements to ensure ACMs are not disturbed.
7. Emergency procedures should ACMs be disturbed.

The plan must serve as a living document and be site-specific. It must be capable of evolving with changes in the condition of asbestos or building layout. You can write it up or use an electronic alternative.

Keeping your asbestos management plan up-to-date

You must regularly review and update your asbestos management plan to ensure it is up-to-date and relevant:

1. whenever work takes place that affects ACMs
2. where staff with management responsibilities have changed
3. where ACMs have been inadvertently disturbed
4. following scheduled condition checks of ACMs

Do you need assistance with an asbestos management plan?

Managing asbestos in public buildings requires adherence to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. If you are an appointed duty holder, ie a building manager, landlord, or property owner, you must guarantee that the asbestos management plan is up-to-date and accurate. To achieve this, an asbestos survey is necessary.

If your building requires an asbestos survey or you need assistance with producing an asbestos management plan, we encourage you to get in touch. Our staff, experienced professionals in the field, have an excellent understanding of the requirements of an asbestos management plan. Call us at 0845 226 5061. Alternatively, email info@pves.co.uk and we will be in touch.