Asbestos Law and Legislation

Asbestos legislation in the UK is intended to protect everyone from harmful exposure to asbestos. Although there are specific asbestos regulations, approved codes of practice and guidance, there are also a large number of other regulations and guidance which indirectly form general and legal duties with regards to asbestos containing materials. The most significant law was the Asbestos (Prohibition) Regulations which (in its various amendments) banned the import and use of all types of asbestos by 1999.

By 2006, there were three sets of regulations that controlled exposure to asbestos:

• The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 (ASLIC), as amended, which required work with all the more hazardous asbestos-containing materials to be done by a contractor licensed by HSE.
• The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 (Prohibitions Regulations), as amended, which banned the importation, supply and use of raw asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.
• The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (CAW), which governed the way all work with asbestos is done, to ensure it is done safely.

In November 2006, all of the legislation above was combined to form the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2006).

If you've had contact with asbestos it has the potential to cause you serious illness. Anyone dealing with asbestos has strict safety guidlines to follow and if you havn't been made aware of these then you are liable to make a claim. For more information on asbestos related claims please contact mesotheliomamatters.com.