Commercial
Legal obligations-All commercial properties; Shops, Offices, Restaurants, Warehouses, Hotels, Guest Houses, B&B’s etc. have duties under the new regulations.
Workers at Risk
Building workers, Plumbers, Electricians, Carpenters etc. have been identified as the largest group of workers currently at risk from Asbestos exposure. Although the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) was amended in 1998 to cover all those who are liable to be exposed. A major problem is that currently these building trade workers are often unaware when they may come across Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM’s) in their work.
ACM’s IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES
Asbestos roof tiles
Cement roof, gutter, down pipe, external flue
External and internal cladding
Pipe insulation and boiler room
Electrical plant room
Service risers and lift shaft linings
Water storage tanks and W.C.s
Spray coatings to ceilings, walls, beams/columns
Soffit boards. Partition walls
Panel on, or inside, fire door
As the Duty Holder – You have a duty of care to protect those who occupy, work in, visit, make deliveries to, or engage in maintenance work at your premises.
In many cases employers can not make a good assessment of the risk before starting work as there is no information available.The requirements of the new duty seek to prevent further inadvertent exposure to Asbestos of building, repair, refurbishment, and maintenance workers. More than 3,400 people in the UK alone, die each year from asbestos related lung cancer and mesothelioma due to past exposure to asbestos. That number is expected to rise in the coming years. The new CAWR 2002 which came into force in May 2004 will compel all property owners to investigate their premises for Asbestos and to manage the associated risks.
Above are just a small number of the possible uses and locations of ACM’s .
Further investigating would require a detailed survey to identify all ACM’s present in the building.
If you expose any of the above to the inhalation of asbestos fibres whilst on your premises you could find yourself subject to litigation that could result in prosecution. If in any doubt please contact us for advice.
Abbey Asbestos Management Ltd. Could be the answer to your obligations under the CAWR by carrying out risk assessments and surveys with the minimum of fuss enabling you to comply with the current regulations.