Asbestos was widely used in homes, commercial businesses, and machinery up until 1999 when it was finally banned.
Due to this it means that it is very common to still find in the general environment, which in turn means that proper precautions need to be taken and abided by so that people are safe from its dangers.

Action
What you need to do when it comes to asbestos really depends on the role and the workplace. There are different actions to take to make sure you are complying with the law. These can be found by clicking here.

Basic dos are:
• Stop and ask if you are suspicious something may be asbestos or if you think the work might need to be carried out by a licensed contractor.
• Follow the plan of work and the task guidance sheets.
• Make sure you take account of other risks such as work at height.
• Use protective equipment, including a suitable face mask, worn properly.
• Clean up as you go, stop waste building up.
• Make sure waste is double- bagged and is disposed of properly at a licensed tip.
• Wash hands before breaks and going home.
• Check whether work should be notified.
• Make sure you have been properly trained before you start.

Those in charge must:
• Find out if asbestos- containing materials are present and plan the work to avoid disturbing these materials if possible.
• Ensure that everyone who is going to work on asbestos material is trained properly and is supervised.
• Know what work can be carried out on asbestos containing materials, i.e. does this work need to be carried out by a contractor licensed by HSE?
• Take account of other risks as well as asbestos, e.g. work at height, and take the precautions necessary to do the job safely.
• Prepare a plan of work, explaining what the job involves, the work procedures, and what controls to use.
• Provide you with the right equipment, which is clean, in good working order, and protects you against asbestos.
• Make sure the work area is inspected visually at the end of the job, to check it is safe for use.
• Plan for the safe disposal of any asbestos waste

Training
If you have employees who are likely to work with asbestos you must make sure that they are trained to work safely with asbestos, or even just to know when to stop work because they can easily spot it.

Employees should know:
• The different types of asbestos
• Where it is likely to be found
• The dangers it poses
• How to avoid it and protect against being exposed to it
• How to deal with an emergency if it is disturbed

HSE
The HSE has launched a campaign called ‘Asbestos and You’ To help you stay aware of the danger’s asbestos, can cause and how best to manage it for your employees and yourself. Please see attached link to download a PDF guide: quick guide for trades

Useful links:
HSE
UK Parliament