Asbestos Management Plan Guidance
If you are responsible for the maintenance or repair of a non-domestic building, you may have a legal Duty to Manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (Regulation 4).
This duty is designed to ensure that asbestos containing materials (ACMs) within buildings are properly identified, assessed and managed so that people are not exposed to asbestos fibres.
The Duty Applies to Many Types of Premises
- Offices
- Shops
- Industrial buildings
- Schools
- Communal areas of residential buildings
- Warehouses
- Public buildings
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides comprehensive official guidance on the Duty to Manage asbestos which can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/duty/index.htm . This page explains the key principles and practical steps involved.
The Difference Between an Asbestos Survey and an Asbestos Management Plan
A common point of confusion is the difference between an Asbestos Management Survey and an Asbestos Management Plan. These are not the same thing.
Asbestos Management Survey
Carried out by a competent asbestos surveyor. The survey identifies:
- Whether asbestos is present
- Where it is located
- What type of material it is
- Its condition
- The risk of fibre release
Results are normally presented in a formal survey report and asbestos register. This survey forms the technical foundation for managing asbestos in a building.
Asbestos Management Plan
A working document produced and implemented by the dutyholder. It sets out:
- Who is responsible for asbestos management
- How the asbestos register will be maintained
- How contractors are informed about asbestos before work begins
- How materials will be inspected and monitored
- What actions will be taken if materials deteriorate
- How staff are informed or trained where necessary
The management plan is part of your internal management system, rather than a technical survey document.
Why Dutyholders Should Normally Produce Their Own Management Plan
While consultants can assist with asbestos surveys and technical advice, the management plan itself is usually best developed by the dutyholder. This is because the dutyholder:
- Understands how the building is actually used
- Controls maintenance and contractor activities
- Manages health and safety procedures within the organisation
The management plan therefore needs to fit within the organisation's existing health and safety and maintenance processes. In practice it becomes a simple working document used by building managers, maintenance teams and contractors.
What Dutyholders Need to Do
In simple terms, the Duty to Manage asbestos involves five key steps:
Find out if asbestos is present
Arrange an appropriate asbestos survey if one has not already been carried out.
Keep an asbestos register
Record the location and condition of any asbestos containing materials.
Assess the risk
Consider how likely materials are to be disturbed.
Develop and implement an Asbestos Management Plan
Set out how the materials will be monitored and controlled.
Ensure information is shared
Anyone who may work on the building must be informed about the presence of asbestos.
Useful HSE Resources
The HSE provides very useful free guidance and templates, including:
- Duty to Manage guidance
- Example asbestos management plan templates
- Dutyholder training information
These resources can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/duty/index.htm . The HSE also provides guidance on Dutyholder training courses, which many organisations find useful for understanding their responsibilities.
How I Can Help
As an independent asbestos surveyor, I can assist dutyholders by:
- Carrying out asbestos management surveys
- Producing asbestos registers
- Providing practical advice on asbestos risk management
However, the management plan itself is usually something the dutyholder should implement internally, using the survey information and HSE guidance as a framework. If you need advice regarding surveys or asbestos identification within your premises, feel free to get in touch.
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