The HSE has issued the following:

"Subject to Parliamentary approval, the revised Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 are due to come into force on 6 April 2012, the common commencement date.     The new Regulations are being made in order to comply with a legal opinion issued by the European Commission which found the previous asbestos regulations had not fully implemented the relevant Directive.  

The main change is that employers carrying out some types of non-licensed work will now be required to notify that work, ensure workers have medical examinations at least once every 3 years and to keep a record of the work done by each worker.       

There will be a three year transition period to 30 April 2015, before the new requirement for workers carrying out some types of non-licensed work to have a medical examination comes into force.   The core requirements of the existing regulations to carry out a risk assessment, plan work, put in place suitable control measures and train workers are all unchanged,   The work for which a licence is required is also unchanged as are the requirements relating to licensed workers.  Guidance to explain the changes will be provided on HSE's website in due course."

Additional information and summary documents will be made available in the lead up to the 6th April.  To request this information please click here

Further information on Silverdell PLC can be found here.