ABSTRACT
HSAWA Act 1974 has undoubtedly been the single most influential piece of legislation on health and safety in the workplace. Now, although the major duties remain with the employer, the employee had for the first time, rights of access to information, safety training, representation and consultation about safety management. Before work commences, an employer should identify the type of asbestos, undertake a risk assessment, which should identify the control measures needed, and produce a plan of work. The most important change in CAWR 2002 was, of course, the new 'duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises'. The other exemptions would be for air sampling and bulk sampling as part of a survey, and it would clearly not be required for work on bonded materials such as asbestos cement, asbestos floor tiles or asbestos roofing felt.
