Duty to Manage Asbestos Guide

Yes. Duty to Manage still applies, because maintenance, inspections or security access can disturb asbestos. Even an unoccupied building must have risks assessed and controlled.

Yes. Responsibilities depend on your lease. You may share responsibility with the landlord or managing agent. These responsibilities must be clearly agreed and documented.

Yes. The survey identifies asbestos, but the management plan explains how you will manage those risks day-to-day. Both are required for compliance.

Your Asbestos Management Plan should normally be reviewed at least once a year, but the exact frequency depends on the risks in your building. If the use of the building changes, refurbishment is planned, or new information about asbestos comes to light, the plan should be reviewed sooner to ensure it remains accurate and effective.

ACMs should be reinspected regularly to check for any change in condition, and the frequency should be based on the risk assessment. Many organisations reinspect ACMs every 6 to 12 months, but higher-risk materials, high-traffic areas, or locations with frequent maintenance may require more frequent checks.

Your Asbestos Management Plan should specify how often each material needs to be reinspected based on:

• its condition
• the material/priority risk score
• how likely it is to be disturbed
• access and usage of the area

The key principle is that inspection frequency must reflect the risk of fibre release, not just a fixed annual cycle.

A competent person, typically the Appointed Person or Dutyholder, can update it. Updates must be made whenever ACMs are inspected, removed, repaired or when their condition changes.

Yes, if you are trained and competent. However, many organisations choose professional support for surveys, sampling and higher-risk assessments.

Yes. Regulation 4 applies to all non-domestic premises, regardless of size or number of employees.

Yes. Anyone who could disturb asbestos, staff or contractors, must be informed and provided with access to the asbestos register.

Restrict access immediately, prevent disturbance, and arrange for an urgent assessment. Your management plan should outline the emergency procedure to follow.

No. A Management Survey is for normal occupancy. A Refurbishment/Demolition Survey is required before any intrusive work.

The Dutyholder is whoever has responsibility for repair and maintenance under the lease or contract. This may be the owner, landlord, managing agent or employer in control of the building.

Yes. Even small premises benefit from someone trained to coordinate asbestos-related tasks and keep records up to date.

Yes, as long as the person is competent and trained for the role.

The role itself is not named in legislation, but Regulation 4 requires responsibilities to be clearly assigned, the Appointed Person fulfils this in practice.

Enough to update records, coordinate/review surveys, communicate with contractors and ensure work is paused if risks are identified.

Duty to Manage Asbestos: Dutyholder training covering Regulation 4 obligations, surveys, registers and management planning.

Duty to Manage Asbestos: Appointed Person training, which provides deeper understanding of monitoring, reinspection and managing the Asbestos Management Plan.

They need Asbestos Awareness. This is the minimum legal requirement for anyone who could encounter asbestos as part of their work.

Non-Licensed Asbestos Training is required for work on lower-risk ACMs, such as removing small sections of floor tiles or drilling textured coatings.

This course is ideal for supervisors, managers, health & safety staff and any employee involved in the asbestos management process but not acting as the main Dutyholder.

Typically every 12 months, although some organisations choose refresher intervals based on risk, job role and frequency of potential exposure.

If their duties could lead to accidental disturbance of ACMs, they require Asbestos Awareness. If their role poses no potential for disturbance, training may not be required, but a risk assessment should confirm this.

Yes, for Asbestos Awareness.

Duty to Manage Overview, Dutyholder, Appointed Person and Non-Licensed Work training are often best delivered face-to-face or in blended form due to the practical nature of the roles.

Yes. You must keep a “No Asbestos Present” register or survey result to demonstrate compliance if challenged or inspected.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or local authorities, depending on the type of premises.

Not to private homes. However, common areas of residential buildings, such as stairwells, plant rooms and corridors, are covered.

Labelling is not a legal requirement, but many organisations choose to label ACMs to help contractors quickly identify risk areas.

Enforcement action, fines, possible prosecution, reputational damage and increased risk of asbestos exposure for staff and contractors.

Stop work in the area, update the register, and arrange for urgent sampling or assessment. The management plan should be updated accordingly.