Asbestos Licensing Regulations

Citation

(1999), "Asbestos Licensing Regulations", Facilities, Vol. 17 No. 3/4. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.1999.06917cab.003

Asbestos Licensing Regulations

Asbestos Licensing Regulations

Keywords Asbestos, Health and safety, Regulations

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has agreed to propose to Ministers amendment regulations to refocus and tighten the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 (ASLIC) and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 (CAW).

The proposed amendments to CAW are intended to bring about a general tightening of the regulations and were the results of Consultation Document 129/98. Specific changes include:

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  reductions of the action level and control limit for exposure to chrysotile (white asbestos);

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  clarification of the extent of the application of CAW to make it plain that all workers who are liable to be exposed to asbestos are covered; and

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  a requirement that respiratory protective equipment should be chosen to reduce exposure to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable.

The Commission also approved amendments to the two Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs) which provide guidance on CAW. Subject to Ministerial approval the regulations should come into effect in January 1999.

The proposed amendments to CAW contain a requirement for laboratories which carry out asbestos-related analysis work to be accredited to the standard EN45001. HSC proposes a six month lead in period for this requirement, to give laboratories time to apply to the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) for formal accreditation and to give UKAS time to consider the applications. The regulations would retain the current requirement for a licence to work with asbestos coating, paints and finishing plasters.

The proposed amendments to ASLIC would bring asbestos insulating board into the scope of the regulations for the first time. This means that contractors would need to get a license from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) before they began any work on this material. HSC proposes that there will be a six month lead in period for this requirement, which will provide people with the opportunity to apply for licenses and for HSE to consider the applications.

It will be important for contractors who believe that they will need licenses for the first time when the new requirement comes into effect to apply to HSE in good time.

Any queries on application for licences should be addressed to: The Asbestos Licensing Unit, Belford House, Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3UE.

Applications for laboratories seeking accreditation should be made to: United Kingdom Accreditation Service, 21-27 High Street, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 4UN.

The HSC has also asked HSE to begin work to develop detailed proposals for regulations to require management of the risks from asbestos in buildings.

A separate HSC consultation exercise, already under way, on further restrictions on importation, supply and use of chrysotile (white asbestos) will end on 17 December 1998.

Public enquiries: call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: +44 (0) 541 545500, or write to: HSE Information Centre, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ.