Asbestos- the Law
From the 1st of March 2007 the Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, together with two ACoPs, L143 ‘Work with asbestos containing materials’ and a revised version of L127 ‘Duty to manage asbestos in premises’, replaced The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003, The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984, and The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993.The changes were brought about by the need to simplify the regulations and to make them more risk-based in line with the amended European Asbestos Workers’ Protection Directive.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (CAR)- sets out the requirements for the protection of people exposed to asbestos. These Regulations include the requirement for those with responsibility for the maintenance and/or repair of non-domestic premises, to identify and manage any risk from asbestos within their premises. The Regulations also require companies to be licensed to carry out work with asbestos and also prohibit the importation, supply and use of all asbestos, and products where asbestos has been knowingly added.
Link( Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 )
Further information on the duty to manage can be found at "managing asbestos".
The Control of Asbestos Regulations are supported by Approved Codes of Practice and/or guidance that provide advice on how to comply with the legislation.
- Work with materials containing asbestos, L143 HSE Books ISBN 0 7176-6206-3.
- Duty to manage asbestos in premises L127 HSE Books ISBN 0 7176-6209-8.