Revised guidance on asbestos

The Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) L127 (The management of asbestos in non-domestic premises) and L143 (Work with materials containing asbestos) have been consolidated into one single revised ACOP – L143 Managing and working with asbestos.

L143 has been revised to make it easier for businesses and employers to understand and meet their legal obligations. It also reflects the changes introduced in The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) on the notification of non-licensed work with asbestos, and consequent arrangements for employee medical examinations and record keeping.

Kären Clayton, director of HSE’s Long Latency Health Risks Division, said: "The two ACOPs have been updated and brought together to help employers find the information they need quickly and understand how to protect their workers from dangers of working with asbestos. The revised ACOP provides better clarity on identifying  dutyholders for non-domestic premises and the things they must do to comply with the ‘duty to manage’ asbestos.

The revised ACOP is available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l143.htm