The HSE had planned to tighten the laws by this summer. However, facilities managers and contractors, who have been waiting for clarification about who is responsible for providing information on the type and location of asbestos, will have to wait until next spring at the earliest. The delay is due to a possible extention of the regulations to cover private rented accommodation, in addition to all public buildings.
'We conducted a consultation last year on where to take the regulations because people entering premises were inadvertently being exposed to asbestos. But we have encountered difficulties in extending the regulations to private rented accommodation,' admitted HSE spokesman Dave Garner.
Two major issues emerged from the consultation on amendments to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations. Many felt the draft did not adequately deal with the variety of relationships between building owners and occupiers, which would have led to problems implementing the regulations.
The consultations also uncovered a high level of support for the duty to manage asbestos to be applied to some domestic premises.
Until the regulations are amended, the duty on building managers to manage asbestos remains implicit only and leaves the crucial issue of who is responsible for mapping asbestos open to debate between a building's owner and whoever manages it.
Such an ad hoc approach has already led sub-contractors and employees to be accidentally exposed to the substance — estimated to be in as many as 1.5 million workplaces in the UK.
* The HSE has issued warnings that serious breaches of current health and safety laws will result in prosecution.
Source
The Facilities Business
