Asbestos Legislation and the Law

In the UK, the Control of Asbestos at Work 2002 (CAWR) came into effect on the 21^st May 2004. What this meant was that employers, managers and owners of non-domestic properties (any building intended for commercial purposes, which includes manages residential properties) are required by Law to have their properties properly surveyed by qualified asbestos surveyors and if any hazards are found, for those hazards to be removed so as to not endanger anyone operating on the property.

The CAWR also brought forth Regulation 4 of the act, which meant that anyone responsible for a property MUST:

• Have the property surveyed and locate any asbestos to determine the threat that it may pose.
• Create a record (written or otherwise) that states the nature, location and condition of any asbestos found.
• Assess what the appropriate course of action or the asbestos will be, to determine the correct removal and management procedures.
• Ensure that any information regarding the asbestos is freely available for any workers/staff/others that may need it.