01 October 2009
A revised Approved Code of Practice, the Management of Exposure to Asbestos in Workplace Buildings and Structures, comes into force on the 1st October 2009.
Although there are no significant changes from the existing Approved Code of Practice which was introduced in January 2005, the revised Code:
- amends the control limit (the maximum concentration of asbestos fibres that must not be exceeded)
- provides additional guidance on the steps to be taken when asbestos materials are inadvertently damaged
- gives further information on the preparation of the asbestos management plan and clarifies the training requirements for all workers who are likely to come across asbestos during their work
The revised Code also incorporates the changes which have occurred as a result of the revision to the Asbestos Licensing Regulations which were introduced in 2008.
The Code, which provides practical guidance on how persons can meet their legal requirements under health and safety legislation, has been approved by the Minister for Social Security under Article 10 of the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law, 1989.
Speaking about the introduction of the revised Code of Practice, Colin Myers, Director of Health and Safety of the Health and Safety Inspectorate commented:
“This revision of the Code not only reflects improvements over the controls for working with asbestos but also highlights the need for all workers, who could be exposed to asbestos in the course of their work, to be provided with asbestos awareness training.
By meeting the standard set out in this revised Code, employers and others involved with managing asbestos in the workplace will ensure that they are not only controlling the risks from disturbing asbestos, but also meeting their legal requirements under health and safety legislation”.
Copies of the Approved Code of Practice are available free from the Health and Safety Inspectorate, or alternatively may be downloaded from the Health and Safety website.
www.gov.je/hsi
gov.je