What are the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?

Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?

I am often asked by clients and customers “What are the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?” The next question is “What do they Mean to Me?” Read on to learn all about the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and what they mean to businesses in the UK.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) is an add on piece of legislation that came into effect in 2012 which brought the United Kingdom's asbestos industry into line with the rest of Europe.

CAR 2012 actually changed very little to the practices in Great Britain, as the changes to working practises already in place within the asbestos removal industry were minimal. It is actually easier to discuss what the CAR 2012 legislation brought in rather than what it didn't.

Main Changes to Pre-2012 Asbestos Legislation

In short, the main changes to the pre-2012 methods  are as follows;

After 6 April 2012, some non-licensed work needed now to be notified to the enforcing authorities. Simple written records now need to be kept for non-licensed work, of which a copy of the record including a list of workers involved, and importantly the likely level of potential exposure of those asbestos workers.

It doesn't require air monitoring as a licensed job does, the potential level of exposure should be estimated based on the experience of previous removals or authority recommendations.

After April 2015, anyone working in non-licensed asbestos removal, including the self-employed must be under a health monitoring programme conducted by a Doctor. If the workers involved already are under a health surveillance programme for licensed work, then they need not have another medical examination for non-licensed work. However, the reverse is not true, medicals issued for notifiable non-licensed work are not allowed to be transferred for licensed asbestos removal or management work.

One final change is the removal of the "Prohibition of supply and use of Asbestos" which since the complete ban in 1999 has banned the supply and use of asbestos because this is now covered by the REACH  legislation of 2006 (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulations 2006). Read our asbestos history article here.

How Can Safeline Help with CAR2012 Compliance?

There are many ways in which Safeline Environmental can help you to comply with the CAR2012 regulations, we list some examples below:

• Asbestos surveys – Regulation 5 states there is a need for the “identification of the presence of asbestos”. Commission Safeline and we can complete a thorough forensic survey of your premises and confirm whether or not there is the presence of asbestos.
• Asbestos management plans – Regulation 4 states that for non-domestic premises there is a requirement to “manage” the asbestos identified. This will also entirely satisfy government inspectors, protect your employees whilst also enabling you to work on “your day job!”
• Asbestos awareness training – Regulation 10 states, it is a legal responsibility to educate and inform all workers who come into contact about the dangers of and how to handle asbestos. Safeline provide awareness courses
• Asbestos emergencies – section 15 states, it is a legal responsibility for employers to deal with asbestos accidents, incidents, and emergencies. This includes mitigating the effects of the event and restoring the situation to normal. If you find yourself with an asbestos emergency event contact Safeline, we will help restore your working environment to one, which is fully legally compliant

The above are just a few of the areas where Safeline can help with CAR2012 compliance. There are twenty one general requirements of part 2 of the legislation, if you need advice, support, guidance, and professional services for any of these we can help. Why not call Safeline for all your CAR2012 compliance needs?

The importance of working with a licensed asbestos contractor?

Additionally, although not changed by CAR2012, the legislation says that all asbestos work likely to exceed the control limit of 0.1f/ml needs to be completed with a licensed asbestos contractor. This includes

• all sprayed asbestos coatings
• asbestos lagging/insulation
• asbestos insulation board
• friable asbestos debris

Naturally, Safeline can help you with any/all of your asbestos removal requirements anywhere within the UK. We work on the smallest to largest jobs and our team of professional and experienced asbestos removal contractors will professionally remove your asbestos. View our asbestos removal services page here.

We are a member of ARCA (The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association). ARCA only welcome applications from licensed asbestos contractors, so you can rest assured that Safeline is fully licensed for the removal of asbestos within the UK. Check our ARCA membership details here.

Contacting Safeline Environmental

For more details, please contact us here at Safeline via our contact form or simply by emailing info@safeline-env.co.uk. Our UK-nationwide service can help you protect your workers or home and comply with CAR2012. Alternatively, please call us on 01299 251083 with any asbestos-related concerns and projects.

Image Credits: UK Legislation and Sarf London Dunc