Who Is Responsible For Removing Asbestos In Hampshire?

Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that was commonly used in the construction of buildings in the UK until the 1980s. Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. For this reason, it is crucial to identify and remove any asbestos-containing materials from buildings in Hampshire and across the UK.

If you are a manager or owner of a building in Hampshire, you may be wondering who is responsible for removing asbestos from your property. In this landing page, we will discuss the legal obligations of different parties when it comes to removing asbestos, and how Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire can help you manage asbestos in your building.

Asbestos in Buildings

Asbestos was widely used in the construction industry from the 1950s to the 1980s due to its heat-resistant properties. It was used in a variety of different building materials, including insulation, roofing, cement, and floor tiles. Even though the use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, many buildings constructed before that time still contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

ACMs are not usually dangerous if they are in good condition and left undisturbed. However, if ACMs are damaged or disturbed, they can release dangerous asbestos fibers into the air, which can be inhaled by occupants of the building. This is why it is important to identify and manage any ACMs in any building.

Who Is Responsible for Removing Asbestos in Hampshire?

The duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises lies with the duty holder. The duty holder is defined as anyone who has an obligation to maintain or repair the premises under a contract or tenancy agreement, or who has control over the premises. This could be the owner, the landlord, the tenant, or the managing agent.

In domestic premises, the responsibility for managing asbestos falls to the owner or the landlord. This includes owner-occupied houses, private rented accommodation, and social housing.

Asbestos Surveys and Management

The first step in managing asbestos in any building is to identify if there are any ACMs and where they are located. This is done through an asbestos survey, which should be carried out by a competent asbestos surveyor.

The asbestos survey will identify any ACMs in the building, the type of asbestos they contain, and their condition. Based on the survey results, a management plan should be developed to manage the identified ACMs. The management plan should be regularly reviewed and updated as required.

As a duty holder, it is important to ensure that an asbestos survey has been completed for your premises and that any identified ACMs are being managed appropriately. If you are unsure about whether your building contains asbestos, you should arrange for an asbestos survey to be carried out as soon as possible.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulatory body responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in the UK. The HSE has published extensive guidance on managing asbestos in buildings, and duty holders should ensure that they are complying with this guidance.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, duty holders have a legal duty to manage asbestos in their buildings. The duty to manage asbestos includes:

• identifying where asbestos is present and its condition
• assessing the risk of anyone being exposed to asbestos fibers
• preparing an asbestos management plan
• providing information on the location and condition of ACMs to anyone who is likely to disturb them, such as workers or contractors
• ensuring that any workers or contractors who may disturb ACMs are appropriately trained and aware of the risks.

Statutory Nuisance

If a building is found to be causing a statutory nuisance, such as by releasing asbestos fibers into the air, the enforcing authority can take statutory action to require the nuisance to be abated. This can include issuing an abatement notice or taking direct action to remove the nuisance.

As a duty holder, it is important to take all reasonable steps to prevent statutory nuisances from occurring. This includes ensuring that any ACMs in your building are being managed appropriately.

Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire, we offer a range of services to help duty holders manage asbestos in their buildings. Our services include:

• Asbestos surveys: We can carry out a thorough asbestos survey of your building to identify any ACMs and to assess their condition and risk.
• Asbestos management plans: We can develop an asbestos management plan to help you manage any identified ACMs and to ensure that you remain compliant with the law.
• Asbestos removal: If ACMs need to be removed from your building, we can provide a safe and efficient asbestos removal service.
• Asbestos training: We can provide asbestos awareness training for your workers or contractors to ensure that they are aware of the risks of working with or near ACMs.

All of our services are carried out by fully qualified asbestos professionals who are experienced in managing asbestos in buildings of all types and sizes.

Conclusion

As a duty holder, it is important to take responsibility for managing asbestos in your building. This includes arranging for an asbestos survey to be carried out, developing an asbestos management plan, and ensuring that any identified ACMs are managed appropriately.

At Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire, we can help you manage your asbestos obligations and keep your building safe for occupants and workers. Contact us today to arrange an asbestos survey or to discuss any aspect of asbestos management.