What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a fibrous silicate material widely used as a building material
from the 1950s to the late 1990s It was popular due to its chemical inertness
and heat-resistant properties, until it was discovered to be a cause of
certain cancers. The reason for this is because fibres can pass into the
lung where they can stay for many years and lead to the development of
asbestos-related diseases. There are three main types of asbestos: brown,
blue and white.
Why is asbestos important?
Asbestos is the greatest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK; it is therefore vital to prevent or control exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is only a danger when fibres are made airborne. You can’t see or smell asbestos fibres in the air. The effects of asbestos take many years to show up and the risk is significantly increased by smoking
Who is affected / most at risk from asbestos?
Anyone who is involved in building maintenance is potentially at risk if they disturb asbestos. The danger lies in any activity that disturbs the asbestos fibres, including removal, drilling, sanding and cutting.
What does the law say?
All employers have statutory and common-law obligations in relation to the health and safety of their employees and premises.
There are elements of the following legislation that affect asbestos handling:
- The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
- The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002
Good asbestos practice
The duty to manage asbestos requires the preparation of a plan on how you intend to manage the risks from asbestos on the premises, including how you intend to assess the potential risks from asbestos. The condition of the asbestos will influence whether it should be removed or left in place. If it is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged or disturbed the best option is probably to leave it where it is. If it is in poor condition, or likely to be damaged or disturbed, you may need to consult with a specialist contractor to decide what action to take.
More information on asbestos
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/information.htm
HSE free publications:
- Managing asbestos - your new legal duties (a joint leaflet produced
by Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Federation of Small Business,
Asbestos Testing and Consulting division of ARCA and HSE)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/manageasbestos.pdf 
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