Essential Guide: Duty to Manage Asbestos Campaign

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) has launched a new UK campaign, "Asbestos-Your Duty," to offer resources and help to those with a legal responsibility to manage buildings.

What is the Duty to Manage Asbestos Regulation?

Managing asbestos fibres in buildings is very important for a safe and healthy environment due to the serious health risks associated with exposure. The law, known as the Control of Asbestos Regulations, requires those in charge to find, evaluate, and handle materials with asbestos or presumed ACMs (asbestos-containing materials). This helps reduce risks for people using the building.

What Is the 'Asbestos—Your Duty' Campaign About?

This campaign is aimed at those responsible for the upkeep of buildings such as:

Factories, warehouses, offices, and shops.
Public spaces; such premises include hospitals, schools, religious buildings, museums, and libraries.

Under the law, any ACM present in these buildings must be properly managed to prevent harm.

Why This Matters

Asbestos can hide in plain sight, embedded in building materials such as ceiling tiles, insulation, and flooring. Without proper management, the risk of exposure is real for anyone who works in or visits these spaces. While ACMs were outlawed for use in construction in 2000, millions of buildings predating this year still contain these harmful materials.

The duty to manage asbestos is a legal requirement designed to protect workers, visitors, and the public. Ignoring it could lead to severe health risks and legal consequences.

Resources to Help You Comply

The Asbestos—Your Duty campaign provides a variety of resources to help duty holders manage ACMs safely and effectively. Here’s what’s available:

Video Guide: A short video outlining the steps to comply with the duty to manage asbestos.
Templates and Examples: Free blank templates to help you manage ACMs in your building.
Podcast and webinar: Learn from experts by listening to the campaign podcast and watching the free webinar.
One-Page Guide: A quick reference guide with essential information and links to key resources.
Campaign Assets: Downloadable materials to share within your network.

All of these tools are designed to make compliance easier and ensure everyone understands their responsibilities.

Who are the Duty Holders?

Understanding who has legal duties about asbestos management is important. These people, called duty holders, are usually those in charge of the place. Those with a clear responsibility include building owners, landlords, or organisations that take care of maintenance, especially concerning the presence of asbestos and the associated risk.

Attending appropriate training is essential to know that these legal duties cannot be handed off to others. For an easy-to-follow online Asbestos Awareness Course, check out our training.

What are the Duty Holder's Responsibilities?

Dutyholders must take reasonable steps to keep everyone safe in their buildings. In simple terms, this means they need to take the following necessary steps:

Find out if asbestos is present through surveys.
Conduct a risk assessment for ACMs.
Create and carry out an asbestos management plan.
Review and update the plan regularly.

Additionally, duty holders are legally required to share information about where the ACM is located and it's condition. This information should be easily available to anyone who might contact or disturb these materials while working, such as maintenance staff and emergency services.

two duty holders filing an asbestos register as a duty to manage asbestos

Final Thoughts

The new Asbestos - Your Duty campaign highlights the importance of safety in public buildings, including common areas. Duty holders need to know their responsibilities for successful asbestos management, including the approved code of practice. By using the resources from this campaign, duty-holders can take steps to deal with ACM issues and protect the health of those who use the building. Identifying these materials and following best practices are key actions to prevent health risks linked to asbestos exposure.