The duty to manage Asbestos in Non-Domestic Premises became Law on 21st May 2004.

EVERYONE IS ADVISED TO ACT NOW.

Are you aware of the 'Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002'? The major part of this is the 'Duty to Manage Asbestos in Non-Domestic Premises'.

Breathing in air containing asbestos dust can cause asbestos related diseases. These are mainly cancer of the chest and lungs. Asbestos related diseases are currently killing an estimated 3,500 people per year in Great Britain, and this is expected to rise until 2011.

Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive suggest that if no action is taken, over the next 50 years 9,000 people each year would die of exposure to asbestos. The new regulation is set to dramatically reduce this figure.

The duty to manage will require those who are responsible for any non-domestic premises to put into place steps to:

	Ascertain if there are any asbestos containing materials (ACM's) on the premises (materials must be presumed to contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence to prove otherwise).
	Determine the type and condition of any such materials, assess the risk of disturbance/exposure of any ACM's or presumed ACM's.
	Collate and keep an up to date record of the location of these ACM's or presumed ACM's.
	Prepare a comprehensive management plan detailing how the risks are to be managed.
	Take the necessary steps to implement the management plan.
	Periodically review and monitor the management plan.
	Make this management plan readily available to anyone who is liable to work around or disturb the asbestos.