Background to UK Asbestos Law;
- Asbestos first recognised to be an occupational hazard in 1898
- First officially recorded workplace death due to asbestos in 1924
- On back of ‘ Merewether & Price Report’ Asbestos Industry Regulations 1931 were created requiring ventilation of dusty asbestos processes
- Asbestos Regulations 1969 – first control limit set on asbestos exposure
- Asbestos Licensing Regulations 1983 introduced
- Control of Asbestos at Work 1987 (CAWR). First requirement to prevent exposure to asbestos or reduce it to as low as is reasonably practicable. A principle which stands to date.
- CAWR and Licensing Regulations amended 1998 (AIB licensable, accreditation for testing asbestos mandatory)
- CAWR amended 2002 – This introduced the ‘duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises’ which had major implications for many UK premise managers.
- CAR 2006 – this amalgamated licensing, prohibition and work requirements with asbestos into one single framework. It also introduced new duties for organisations refurbishing or maintaining buildings particular with respect to the identification of asbestos and training workers.
- CAR 2012…
