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Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order

Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

 

 

 

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 came into

force in November 2006. The regulations consolidate three

previous sets of regulations covering prohibition, control

and licensing of asbestos. The regulations continue:

• to prohibit the importation, supply and use of all forms of asbestos
• to ban asbestos and second hand asbestos products, e.g. asbestos cement, boards and tiles
• the duty to manage asbestos

The regulations also require:

• mandatory training for anyone liable to be exposed to asbestos fibres e.g. maintenance workers, cable installers, etc.
• exposure prevention and where this is not resonably practicable
• exposure reduction to the lowest level practicable (measures other than respiratory protective equipment)
• worker exposure must be below the Control Limit of 0.1 per cm cubed (averaged over any continuous 4 hour period)
• short term worker exposure should not exceed 0.6 fibres per cm cubed of air over any continuous 10 minute period (using respiratory protective equipment if exposure cannot be reduced sufficently using other means)

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The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order came

into force in October 2006. The aim of the Order is to

rationalise and consolidate the many pieces of existing fire

legislation and will apply to all workplaces and other non

domestic premises. The main changes to the legislation

are as follows:

• risk assessment based approach to fire safety with a nominated 'responsible person'
• no longer a requirement for higher risk premises to have a fire certificate
• some self-employed people and parts of the voluntary sector will also have responsibilities

As this legislation is enforced by the Fire Authority and not the Local Authority, you are advised to seek further information and advice from the relevant Authority or the Communities and Local Goverment. website.

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The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 will come into force in April 2006 for most industries. The music and entertainment industry has 2 more years before having to comply with the tighter levels at which action has to be taken, until then the Noise at Work 1989 Regulations apply. The main changes relate to the lower levels which will be as follows:

• first action level - LEP'd of 80dB(A)    
• second action level - LEP'd of 85dB(A)

For further advice click on HSE within Related Links.

 

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