Revised asbestos regulations receive HSC approval
Published on Mon 7 Aug 2006
The HSC is to recommend approval of revised asbestos regulations, which will strengthen overall worker protection by reducing exposure limits and introducing detailed mandatory training for work with asbestos.
As previously reported on the Workplace Law Network, the draft Control of Asbestos Regulations, which will simplify the regulatory regime and implement revisions to the EU Asbestos Worker Protection Directive, have been the subject of extensive consultation.
The new regulations replace three existing sets of regulations (The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983, as amended, and The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992, as amended), and introduce a lower single control limit of 0.1 fibres per cubic cm of air for work with all types of asbestos. They also include practical guidelines for the determination of "sporadic and low intensity exposure", as required by the EU directive.
Under the new regulations, work with textured decorative coatings containing asbestos (TCs) will be removed from the licensing regime as research shows that the level of exposure to asbestos fibres from such work are low.
The HSC will shortly be submitting full details of the proposed regulations along with with two Approved Codes of Practice which provide guidance on compliance, to Ministers for approval. It has asked the HSE to monitor implementation of the regulations.
Recently the Compensation Bill for mesothelioma victims received Royal Assent. The Compensation Act 2006 will make it quicker and simpler for people who contract mesothelioma because they have been negligently exposed to asbestos to recover compensation from employers.
The Act is expected to come into force in spring 2007. When it does, it will mean that employees suffering from mesothelioma due to more than one employer's negligence will be able to receive full compensation from any one responsible employer quickly.
Tags: asbestos, legal, training, HSE, Control Limit, licensing, Workplace Law Network, HSC, exposure limits, textured coatings, mesothelioma
