Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 CAR12

[edit] Introduction

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR12) came into force on 6 April 2012, updating The Control of Asbestos Regulations (2006). CAR12 states:

[edit] Changes in regulations from 2006 to 2012

The differences between the two versions are fairly limited, although the 2012 regulations introduced additional notification requirements that apply to some types of non-licensed work.

Specifics of the changes around non-licenses work include:

• Notification of work and record keeping. Brief written records should be kept of non-licensed work which warrants notification. Copies should be retained of the notification along with a list of workers on the job. This should be annotated with an estimate of the level of likely exposure (based on experience of similar past tasks or published guidance) of those workers to asbestos.
• Medical surveillance. All workers (including self-employed personnel) doing notifiable non-licensed work with asbestos must be under health surveillance by a doctor. Workers who are already under health surveillance for licensed work do not need another medical examination for non-licensed work. However, medical examinations for notifiable non-licensed work are not acceptable for those doing licensed work.

[edit] Additional 2012 changes

In addition, some modernisation of language was made along with changes that reflect other legislation. For instance, the prohibition of supply and use of asbestos is covered by REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulations 2006).

The 2012 regulations updated the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) as well. Two ACOPs, L127 (The management of asbestos in non-domestic premises) and L143 (Work with materials containing asbestos) were consolidated into a single revised ACOP. The ACOP was revised to make legal compliance clearer to duty holders and to reflect the changes introduced in the 2012 regulations.

NB: On 30 September 2015, the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) published a free guidance note for clients appointing asbestos contractors.

[edit] Update

On 24 May 2021, Health and Safety Executive announced the second post implementation review (PIR) of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2012 (CAR12). The review began with a survey, which started collecting responses on 21 May 2021.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Asbestos in construction.
• Asbestos management.
• Failure to mention asbestos.
• Health and safety for building design and construction.
• Legislative framework for building design and construction.

[edit] External resources

• Asbestos Removal Contractors Association.
• HSE, Asbestos: The survey guide HSG264.
• HSE, Managing and working with asbestos. Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Approved Code of Practice and guidance.
• Legislation.gov.uk, Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
• Legislation.gov.uk, The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.