1) Asbestos has been used in construction for over a hundred years and there are millions of properties that still contain asbestos.

2) Asbestos was banned by the UK at the end of 1999, so any building constructed before this date may contain asbestos. The only way to find out, if this is so, is to have the premises surveyed by a qualified asbestos surveyor.

3) There are three main types of asbestos – crocidolite (blue), amosite (brown) and chrysotile (white) asbestos. All forms of asbestos can be hazardous and can only legally be removed by asbestos trained personnel.

4) Generally, the lower density asbestos products are most dangerous but all forms of asbestos are dangerous and must be treated with care. Low density asbestos can only be removed by asbestos companies licensed by the Health and Safety Executive.

5) Asbestos comes in many forms and can only be positively identified by sampling and analysing the sample by a UKAS approved laboratory. The sampling must be undertaken by a certified asbestos surveyor.

6) It is important that when arranging for asbestos to be removed the company removing the asbestos must be capable of carrying out the work in accordance with the stringent asbestos regulations. Not all forms of asbestos have to be removed by an asbestos licensed contractor, but by employing a licensed contractor you can be assured that the contractor has the expertise, training and specialist insurance that are required by law to carry out the work safely. Only if the asbestos deteriorates or needs to be removed as part of refurbishment or demolition work will it have to be removed.

7) Many buildings still contain asbestos and as long as it is in a good condition and unlikely to be disturbed can safely be left in place but it is important, and a legal requirement, to have a procedure in place to monitor on a regular basis the condition of the asbestos.

8) Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2012 contains an explicit duty on the owners and occupiers of non-domestic premises, who have maintenance and repair responsibilities, to assess and manage the risks from the presence of asbestos. The risk assessment will be used to produce a management plan which details and records what actions to take to manage and reduce the risks to asbestos.

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