Scope of Duty To Manage

The duty to manage requires information concerning the location and condition of asbestos containing materials to be passed to "every person liable to disturb it". The focus of this regulation is to protect the people most at risk. This is likely to be maintenance workers and building tradesmen.

However, this can also include;

• members of the public and workers generally;
• where ACMs are released through an emergency, fire or accidentally.

The fire services in particular need to be made aware that ACMs are in the premises so that they can take the appropriate precautions in the event of an emergency.

Access to a copy of the up to date record of ACMs in premises must be available on site for the entire life of the premises as far as is reasonably practicable (or if the premises are vacant, at the duty holders nearest occupied premises). The arrangements made to check that the plans are carried out must also be recorded. Safety representatives have a right to copies of any documentation that must be kept by statutory requirements. Copies of the plan should therefore be made available to them. Everyone who needs to know what has been decided must get to know about it and they must be made aware about where the plan is kept. This will include telling the workforce; particularly maintenance workers; telling safety representatives; or preparing packs of information for visiting contractors liable to be at risk.

No one must work on any ACMs unless the requirements of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 are complied with.