Asbestos for landlords and businesses in Plymouth

The legal duty to manage asbestos

HSE says the duty to manage asbestos applies to all non-domestic premises, such as shops, offices and factories, and to the common parts of multi-occupancy domestic buildings, such as purpose-built flats. The dutyholder can be the building owner, the landlord, or whoever has clear responsibility for maintenance and repair. Source: HSE: the duty to manage asbestos.

What the dutyholder has to do

1. Find out whether asbestos-containing materials are there, how much, where, and what condition they are in.
2. Presume a material contains asbestos unless there is strong evidence it does not.
3. Keep a record: a register of where it is, or is presumed to be, and its condition, kept up to date.
4. Assess the risk of anyone being exposed to airborne fibres.
5. Write and follow a management plan, and review it. HSE says every 12 months, or sooner if necessary.
6. Check the condition of the materials, and share the information with anyone who might work on or disturb them, including the emergency services.

Source: HSE: the duty to manage asbestos.

Where a survey fits in

A management survey is the usual starting point for the register. It is for the normal use of a building and covers areas that day-to-day occupation or maintenance could disturb. Before major refurbishment or demolition you need the more intrusive refurbishment and demolition survey. See asbestos surveys in Plymouth.

Source: HSE: arrange an asbestos survey.

Common situations in Plymouth

• You own or manage a shop, office, workshop or unit and have never had an asbestos register
• You manage a block of flats and need to know what is in the stairwells, plant rooms and lift shafts
• You are about to buy, lease or refit a commercial building and want to know what is in it first
• A contractor has asked you for your asbestos register before starting work

Homeowners: see before you renovate and asbestos in Plymouth homes.