“The Duty to Manage – Asbestos Campaign”
Over the next few weeks, Environmental Health Officers from Cookstown District Council, in partnership with HSENI and other Councils will be carrying out inspections of non-domestic premises throughout Northern Ireland to check the level of compliance with the asbestos regulations.
Non-domestic premises include all industrial, commercial or public buildings such as shops, offices, warehouses, etc.
The campaign is a follow up to the 2009 Asbestos “Hidden Killer” campaign aimed at tradesmen. As part of this campaign it was identified there was a compliance gap in relation to the availability of Asbestos Management Plans in many non-domestic premises. This was confirmed by pre-campaign research and the campaign began in September 2010 with 56,000 direct mail shots including simple guidance and announcing the campaign/inspection initiative.
Guidance and information regarding the duty to manage can be downloaded from www.hseni.gov.uk/dutytomanage
All business owners in Northern Ireland, as duty holders, have a legal obligation to provide an asbestos survey/register as set out within the Control of Asbestos Regulations (NI) 2007.The legal duties are irrespective of size or business type. If asbestos is found then there is also the requirement to have an asbestos management plan.
It is vital that a competent person carries out the survey and it is better to use an accredited company or someone who is certified. A poor survey could end up wasting a lot of time and costing a lot more money in the long term.
If the survey indicates that asbestos is present within the building, the action to be taken will depend on the condition of the asbestos. If it is in good condition and is unlikely to be disturbed then it should be left in place. Damaged material should be given high priority by trained personnel.
In general, people think that since asbestos was banned many years ago, the problem has been dealt with and therefore it is not relevant to them. The reality is unfortunately very different as asbestos may be present in any building constructed or refurbished before the year 2000. Today asbestos presents a very real and relevant risk to electricians, plumbers, builders, heating and ventilation engineers, joiners and many other maintenance workers.
Further information regarding the campaign can be obtained by contacting Cookstown District Councils Environmental Health Department on 028 86762205.
Asbestos - Frequently Asked Questions
