The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR 2006) came into force on 13th November 2006, revoking the previous Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983, and Asbestos (Prohibition) Regulations 1992.  The new regulations were introduced in order to implement the new requirements under the European Asbestos Worker Directive and to make other changes to the asbestos legislative framework.

The main changes introduced by CAR 2006, are those relating to exposure limits and to asbestos licensing.

Exposure limits:

There is now a single control limit of 0.1 f/cm³ for all types of asbestos, including white (chrysotile) asbestos and a Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 0.6 f/cm³ measured over a ten-minute time period.

The control limit is the level of asbestos fibres in the air, so far as is reasonably practicable, that should not be exceeded.  One person’s exposure must never go over this limit when measured over a four-hour period.

The Action Level, as used in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2002, no longer exists under the new framework.

There is now a requirement for respiratory protective equipment to be used to reduce exposure to as low as is reasonably practicable, even if the risk assessment shows that the control limit is not expected to be exceeded.

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Regulation 10 of CAR 2006 addresses the issue of information, instruction and training, and splits the training requirements into licensed, non-licensed and awareness training.

The Approved Code of Practice which accompanies CAR 2006, states that asbestos awareness training should be provided for those persons liable to disturb asbestos materials while carrying out their everyday work, or may influence how such work is carried out, such as maintenance staff, electricians, plumbers, etc.

Further information can be found in the Approved Code of Practice “Work with materials containing asbestos” L143, available from HSE Books (Tel: 01787 881165).

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