The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revised guidance to help businesses understand how to work safely with asbestos.
Two Approved Code of Practices (ACOPS), namely L127 (The management of asbestos in non-domestic premises) and L143 (Work with materials containing asbestos), have been consolidated into a single revised ACOP in order to make legal compliance clearer to dutyholders and to reflect the changes introduced by The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
These Regulations came into force on 6 April 2012, updating and replacing the previous 2006 law. They contain new requirements for certain types of non-licensable work with asbestos on notification of work; designating areas where businesses are working on asbestos; employee medical surveillance and record keeping.
The two ACOPs, L127 and L143, were among several identified for review and revision following a recommendation made by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt in his report 'Reclaiming Health and Safety for All'.
The revised ACOP is available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l143.htm.
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