Asbestos survey – The legal duty
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires an employer to provide a safe workplace. Asbestos, a category 1 chemical carcinogen, is subject to a specific set of regulations: the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2006. These regulations cover work with asbestos, prohibitions on the importation, supply and use of asbestos, and licensing of asbestos removal activities.
In addition, there is a specific duty under CAR 2006 (introduced initially under the previous regulations ie the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (2002) and implemented in April 2004*) to manage the risks from asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in non-domestic premises.
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Asbestos Survey – The Reasoning
Did you know that the name Asbestos derives from the Greek word a-, “not”; sbestos, “extinguishable”. Some say that this term may refer to the everlasting wicks of the ‘Eternal Flame’ in the temple of the Vestal Virgins, or possibly an alternate translation such as “indestructible” maybe more appropriate.
You can safely say that it is not a product due to modern science.
Asbestos is naturally occurring and can be found throughout the world. Most commercially used asbestos came from the former Soviet Union, Canada (white asbestos), South Africa (brown asbestos), and Australia (blue asbestos) although the material can be found, in one form or another, almost anywhere, including the UK.
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