The next step

A test sheet

[Miscellaneous]

On the registers

[Further Information]

http www hse gov uk asbestos learning package index htm

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http www hse gov uk pubns books l143 htm

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Are your staff asbestos aware?

What training is required?

Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR) states: “Every employer shall ensure that adequate information, instruction and training is given to those of his employees, who are, or who are liable to be exposed to asbestos, or who supervise such employees”. This duty is expanded in the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) L143 Work with materials containing asbestos,which specifies the level of detail the training should go into (seeThe next step).

Tip. For those who are not going to be working with asbestos, e.g. removing it, but might be exposed to it, e.g. plumbers, maintenance staff etc., “asbestos awareness” training will suffice.

What does the training cover?

Again, the ACoP provides the detail. It states that it should cover the following topics:

• the properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including the increased risk of lung cancer for asbestos workers who smoke
• the types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in buildings and plant
• the general procedures to be followed to deal with an emergency, for example an uncontrolled release of asbestos dust into the workplace; and
• how to avoid the risks from asbestos; for example, no employee should carry out building work which disturbs the fabric of the premises unless the employer has confirmed that ACMs are not present.

Who can do the training?

This is where the ACoP becomes less explicit. It states that training should be provided by someone who is competent to do so. This means someone who has adequate personal practical experience and a theoretical knowledge of all relevant aspects of the work being carried out.

Tip 1. There’s nothing stopping you from completing the training in-house. In fact, the HSE has provided a training pack to enable you to do just that. It includes a PowerPoint presentation and training aids (see The next step).

Tip 2. To ensure that your staff have understood the training, and to give extra credibility to it, you should add an assessed element. This can be achieved by asking staff to answer questions that test their level of understanding (see The next step).

Tip 3. If you don’t feel that you have members of staff capable of delivering the training, there are many external training providers which offer suitable courses. There are two registers of training providers, both of which are recognised by the HSE (see The next step). Those on the registers have been audited and checked by third party assessors.

Tip 4. Finally, if you use the services of a competent health and safety consultant, they should be able to provide the training.

For a copy of L143 (HS 09.12.03A), a weblink to the HSE’s training material (HS 09.12.03B), a test sheet (HS 09.12.03C) and for further information on the registers (HS 09.12.03D), visit http://healthandsafety.indicator.co.uk.