Asbestos Management Stratgey Plan

What Is an Asbestos Management Plan?

An asbestos management plan is a crucial document, whether handwritten or in digital form, that outlines the responsibilities for asbestos management within a commercial or public building. Regardless of the format chosen, it's imperative that the asbestos management plan is readily accessible to all individuals who may need to consult it, including staff, visitors, and tradespeople. Furthermore, it should be easy to comprehend and kept up to date.

Importantly, the asbestos management plan must be developed and documented before any repair or maintenance work is undertaken on the premises. Subsequently, whenever work that may affect the condition of asbestos materials is conducted, the management plan should be updated accordingly. Periodic monitoring (every 6-12 months) of asbestos materials is necessary, and both the asbestos register and management plan should reflect any deterioration in their condition.

Do I Need an Asbestos Management Plan?

If you are legally responsible for the repair and maintenance of commercial or industrial premises, you are considered the Duty Holder. This means that you have a legal obligation to manage any asbestos potentially present within the building(s), and the implementation of an asbestos management plan becomes necessary if asbestos is discovered.

As such, if you identify as the duty holder, your first step should be to determine whether the building contains asbestos. To do this, you should check the construction year of the building. If it was built before the year 2000, it is prudent to presume that asbestos may be present, prompting further investigation. Obtain the building's historical information to gather as much data as possible.

Once you have insights into the building's history, a thorough inspection is needed to ascertain the presence or absence of asbestos. In smaller buildings, you can conduct this inspection yourself, followed by the compilation of your asbestos risk register, detailing the location, quantity, and condition of any suspect asbestos materials. This asbestos register should be accompanied by an asbestos management plan.

For larger buildings with over 25 employees, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends having an asbestos management survey performed by a professional asbestos surveyor. This survey provides a detailed report on the location, type, and condition of any asbestos materials, facilitating the creation of your management plan or hiring asbestos surveying companies to assist.

Once your asbestos register and management plan are in place, you must inform relevant parties about the presence of asbestos within the building. This includes educating employees and maintenance staff on asbestos awareness and reporting procedures. Additionally, label any items containing or potentially containing asbestos to raise awareness and minimise the risk of damage or disturbance.

Construction contractors, engineers, surveyors, and other workers involved in building maintenance must be shown the asbestos risk register and management plan before commencing any work.

Do I Need a Licensed Contractor for Asbestos Encapsulation or Removal?

Under no circumstances should you attempt asbestos repair or removal on your own. Only contractors equipped with the proper training and equipment should undertake such work. In the absence of professional tests or a comprehensive management survey confirming asbestos presence or absence, materials are assumed to contain asbestos and should be treated accordingly. This mandates the observance of full asbestos safety precautions during any work involving presumed asbestos materials.

Specifically, you should engage either a licensed or adequately trained contractor to perform the work. For certain high-risk asbestos types or extensive repair work, an HSE licensed asbestos contractor may be required. Conversely, for lower-risk materials and smaller jobs, a licensed contractor might not be necessary, but you should still employ a contractor with appropriate asbestos training.

Duty holders and employers bear a legal responsibility to manage asbestos in their properties, ensuring the safety of their employees. Don't delay; contact our office to arrange asbestos testing or an asbestos survey to safeguard your premises and meet legal requirements.

Here is an illustration depicting the areas of asbestos within a building as outlined in the asbestos management plan.

Asbestos management plan - site plan

If you require a fully completed management plan for reference, you can find an example document on the HSE website.

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