Anyone who disturbs asbestos-containing materials, for example, by working on them or being near them can be affected.

Research has suggested that the groups most at risk are those who carry out building maintenance and refurbishment work, for example (this is not a complete list, nor in any particular order): 

·          demolition contractors;

·          electricians;

·          roofing contractors;

·          painters and decorators;

·          construction contractors; ·          joiners;

·          heating and ventilation engineers;

·          plumbers;

·          telecommunications engineers;

·          gas fitters;

·          fire and burglar alarm installers;

·          plasterers;

·          general maintenance staff;

·          builders;

·          computer installers;

·          shop fitters;

·          Building surveyors. 

The duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 are largely the same as under the previous regulations, but there are some important changes: There is a new, lower control limit (which no one must go over) of 0.1 fibres permillilitre of air measured over four hours.Work with textured coatings will, generally, not need to be done by a licensed contractor. It will still need to be done safely by trained, competent people working to certain standards.Employers can no longer carry out work in their own premises with their own workers without a licence if the work would otherwise require a licence.The Regulations are clearer on training. Suitable training is required for anyone who is, or may be, exposed to asbestos. 

Licence:  Work with the most dangerous asbestos-containing materials (which give off high fibre levels when disturbed), requires a licence from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Work with most asbestos-containing materials requires a licence.A licence is required for virtually all work with loose packing, sprayed insulation,lagging and asbestos insulation board. Very minor work (which, in total, takes one person no more than one hour, or more people no more than two hours in any seven-day period) does not require a licence. 

The Regulations: 

The regulations apply to all work with asbestos materials carried out by employers, the self-employed and employees. They apply to all work with asbestos whether it requires a licence or not. 

Asbestos management in buildings and construction areas:  Whoever has control of a building has a duty to manage the asbestos in their buildings – your employer should be able to tell you who this is. The duty holder has to take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in the premises and, if so, how much, where they are and what condition they are in. People can also make small surveys and so on to determine the nature of asbestos. 

The presence of asbestos:   

No employer must carry out demolition, maintenance or any other work which exposes, or may expose, their employees to asbestos in any premises unless they have found out: 

·          whether asbestos is, or may be, present;

·          what type of asbestos it is; ·          what material it is in; and

·          what condition it is in; or

·          If there is any doubt about whether asbestos is present, the employer   has assumed that it is present and that it is not only white asbestos. 

Work Plan 

No work should be carried out with asbestos unless a written plan of work detailing how that work is to be carried out has first been prepared. 

The necessary information and instructions: 

Every employer must give adequate training (which includes information and instruction) to employees who are, or may be, exposed to asbestos, their supervisors and those who do work to help the employer comply with these Regulations. This should make them aware of (among other things): 

·          the properties of asbestos, its health effects and the interaction of asbestos

·          and smoking; ·          the type of materials likely to contain asbestos;

·          n what work could cause asbestos exposure and the importance of preventing

·          exposure;

·          how work can be done safely and what equipment is needed;

·          emergency procedures;

·          Hygiene facilities and decontamination. The training must be given at regular intervals. It needs to be proportionate to the nature and degree of exposure and so should contain the appropriate level of detail, be suitable to the job, and should use written materials, oral presentation and demonstration as necessary. 

Exposure prevention: 

Employers have a duty to prevent exposure so far as is reasonably practicable. If exposure cannot be prevented, it must be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable without workers having to use masks. If that has been done but the exposure would still be above the control limit, the employer has to provide suitable masks which reduce the workers’ exposure to below the control limit and as far below it as is reasonably practicable. It is good practice to use masks and otherpersonal protective equipment even at levels below the control limit.If any employee is exposed to more than the control limit, the employer must: 

·          inform the employees concerned and their representatives;

·          ensure that the work does not continue until adequate action has been taken to reduce exposure to below the control limit;

·          Find out why the control limit was exceeded and take action to prevent it happening again, and take air samples to make sure this action was effective. The employer should make arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies. These should minimize the effects of the event and restore the situation to normal. Anyone who may have been affected should be informed immediately. 

The last few tests and measurements need to be handled: 

The air tests and other authoritarian outlooks should be handled by the authorities that have been given the appropriate clearance certification from the government. It is only the necessary measures that should be taken by the governments dealing with the extraction. Health measures should be the first priority of any company. This decreases the risk involved in the nature of the work.