HSE publishes revised guidance on managing and controlling UK’s hidden killer

Post By: Shona Innes

New guidance from the Health and Safety Executive aims to help businesses deal with asbestos fibres.

As the single biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, the HSE has combined approved codes of practice (ACoPs) L127 (the management of asbestos in non-domestic premises) and L143 (work with materials containing asbestos) into a single revised ACoP – 145 Managing and working with asbestos.
This regulation has been revised to help businesses and employers to comprehend and fulfil their legal duties when it comes to asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos fibres can be deadly and can cause a number of respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, which is fatal. It is estimated that around 4,000 deaths a year are caused by work-related illnesses.

HSE Director Karen Clayton said of the revision “The two ACoPs have been updated and brought together to help employers find the information they need quickly and easily and understand how to protect their workers from dangers of working with asbestos”.

She went on to highlight that the revisions would provide transparency on identifying duty-holders for non-domestic premises and also allow them understand their ‘duty to manage’ asbestos.
Changes to the ACoPs do not alter the legal responsibility to protect the health and safety of workers.
The health and safety of employees can be assured by use of such legislation, knowledge and the investment in asbestos surveys and personal protective equipment.

The revised changes to the approved codes of practices can be found on the HSE website. A range of personal protective equipment and dust monitoring equipment can be found at www.frontline-safety.co.uk.

Written by Dawn Mitchell