More and more companies and organisations are now providing asbestos awareness training for staff doing jobs which may carry a risk of contamination. The HSE believes that the majority of dutyholders are addressing their responsibilities under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations, and is now looking for ways to increase awareness amongst contractors and maintenance workers.

Asbestos Roof

Major employers like Derby City Council and Solihull Community Housing are putting their own staff through courses designed to increase their understanding of the asbestos risk. However, they are concerned about using contractors on maintenance and refurbishment tasks who have not been trained in this way.  

Will Deverill, Asbestos Manager with Derby City Council, sees the lack of asbestos knowledge amongst contractors tendering for work every day. ‘The vast majority have only a very basic understanding of asbestos and the dangers which come from poor working practices,’ he said. ‘They don't seem to know how to plan a project and have no idea of the operations of the asbestos industry.’

The Health and Safety Executive estimates that 60 per cent of dutyholders as defined by Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations are now fully aware of the legislation. While it continues to work on the remaining 40 per cent through inspections and enforcements, a major concern is to get the message down to the workers themselves.    

NATAS conducts off the shelf and bespoke asbestos awareness training for companies, councils and organisations of all kinds. The organisation is one of the HSE consultative partners in its Duty to Manage Campaign.