Flat Living WEBSITEGUIDE asbestos: areyouliable Hazards that could


resultininjurymustbe clearlyidentified


risk assessing, at Blue Risk Management we strongly believe that youcannot putaprice on thecost of preventionofinjuryordeath. Weadvise that you instruct an experienced, qualifiedand professional companywith adequateinsurance anda good trackrecord.The cost of your assessment will depend on thesizeofyourblock,and howmuchworkisinvolved. An averagecost will be around £20/flat or apartment, but remember the cheapest are not always thebest.


HowoftensHould RMCs ReviewtHeiR Risk assessMent?


Although legislationdoesnot providefor thefrequency of assessments we would advise anyresponsiblemanagement company orRMC to ensure that full health and safety and fire risk assessments are carried out every year.●


Readmoreonthis topicat www.flat-living.co.uk/ advice/56-extending- your-lease


FlaT lIvInGFIrE SaFETy GUIDE


Flat Living providesitsown comprehensiveguide to fire assessmentswhichcoversthe following topics: nRegulatory Reform(FireSafety) Order 2005 nWhat is a Fire Risk Assessment? nHowdoIcarry outafire risk assessment? nFire Risk Assessment –In5Steps Fire Risk Assessment Audit Form.


Theguideispricedat£39andavailabletobuyonlineat www.flat-living. co.uk/fire-risk-assessment-guide


ANESTIMATED4000 people a year die fromasbestos- relateddiseases andthis figureisincreasing(source: HSE).The ControlofAsbestos Regulationswereintroduced in 2006 to reduce exposure to asbestos containing materials(ACMs)byplacing alegal obligation on anyone responsible formanaging buildingstoensurethat asbestos is dealt with safely. Becausethe regulationsapply to non-domestic premises, RMCdirectorsmaywrongly assumethey don’tapply to them.However,although individualdwellingsdonot fall within thecompass of the legislation, thecommonparts of domestic premises–which arethe responsibility of the RMC–do. TheHSE liststhese as areassuchasentrance lobbies,corridors,walkways, liftsand lift shafts, staircases, boiler houses,risers, gardens, yards andouthouses.The tenanted partsofabuilding areexceptedbut this delineationmay notalways be as simple as it at first appearsand youmay need to take professional advice to determinewhich parts of your building really are ‘common’ areas.


HowdoiCoMply witH tHe


Regulations? Underthe regulations,RMCs aredesignated‘dutyholders’ andhavealegal obligation to protect residentsand others fromexposure to asbestos. Butifthissoundsdaunting, don’tworry.There is plenty of informationavailabletohelp RMCdirectorsunderstand


andcomplywiththe regulations. TheHSE setsout


dutyholders ’obligationsas


follows: nEither findout if thereis asbestos on thepremises, its location andwhatconditionit is in,ormakeapresumption that asbestos is present, unless youhavestrong


evidence to the contrary; nMake and keep an up-to-


date record of your findings; nSetoutaplanthatdetails


howyou willmanage any risk nTake anysteps needed to


put the plan into action; nReviewtheplanona


regular basis; and nSetupasystemfor providinginformation on thelocation andcondition ofACMsforanyonewho is likelytoworkonordisturb them. It is importanttokeep


awritten record of any work carried out and ensure that the building is checked at leastonceayear to flagupany damage or deteriorationtoACMsthat needsattention.Youmust also ensure that anyone whomay comeinto contact with ACMs, such as building contractors, areawarethat theymay be present so they can take the necessary precautions.Complying with the regulations does not mean removing allasbestos fromyour building. Your dutyistoprotect residents and others visiting or working on your building fromrisk.●


Toreadthis article in full,go to:www.flat-living.co.uk/ advice/388-do-we-need- an-asbestos-report


RMCsmustprotect


residents andvisitors fromasbestos


Flat Living Issue 15 45


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