Asbestos Management Policy - Section 3
3. Objectives and Principles of the Policy
3.1 The main aim of this policy is to ensure that any asbestos located within the housing stock is managed in accordance with relevant legislation. There will also be a requirement on contractors to demonstrate that all staff have sufficient knowledge to recognise asbestos if they encounter it. The Council will also take the stance that contractually, asbestos may be seen as an item for variation orders dependent on circumstances.
3.2 The specific objectives of the Asbestos Policy are:
- To take steps to locate any asbestos containing material in our premises and assess their condition;
- To maintain records of the location and condition of asbestos containing materials and assess the risk from them;
- To provide information and advice on the location, type and condition of the material to anyone who could be in a position to disturb it;
- To ensure that all residents and contractors working in tenants homes clearly understand the risks involved in disturbing asbestos containing materials; and
- To take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent our employees and others from breathing in asbestos fibres.
3.3 The principles underpinning the Asbestos Policy are:
- The Council will ensure that the Asbestos Policy complies with and reflects the legal framework and good practice;
- The Council will work in an inclusive way to enable implementation of this policy. This will include involving tenants groups, owners and other council services;
- The Council will implement detailed procedures and agreed practices uniformly across the service;
- The policy will be supported by staff training for anyone liable to be exposed to asbestos fibres at work and to ensure all staff are equipped to carry out the roles expected of them; and
- Communication with tenants and service users is in ‘plain language’ and will make clear who the appropriate officer is to contact in the case of enquiries.