Asbestos Management Policy

• Introduction
• Policy
• Monitoring and review
• About this policy

Manchester Metropolitan University has a statutory duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all the University community which includes its employees, students, visitors, and contractors.  

This Policy has been produced by the Asbestos Safety Team and should be read in conjunction with the University’s Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) which is reviewed annually.

Purpose of policy

Manchester Metropolitan University recognises its legal responsibilities and duties under Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012), referred hereafter as “CAR (2012)” and shall take appropriate action to protect the health and safety of students, staff, visitors, and contractors, by effectively managing the risks associated with Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) identified across the University estate.

Scope

The Policy applies to all employees of the University and staff who fail to adhere to the terms of this Policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Roles and responsibilities

There are key roles and responsibilities set out in this policy which apply to the management of asbestos on the University Campus. These roles include:

• Board of Governors - Duty Holder
• Vice-Chancellor - Duty Holder
• University Health & Safety Committee
• Chief Property Officer
• Director of Campus Services
• Safety & Compliance Manager
• Principal Asbestos Safety Manager - Responsible Person
• Director of Health & Safety 
• Heads of Faculty, School, or Service 
• Assistant Directors
• Project/Estates/Facilities/ ISDS/Technical Services Managers 
• Employees 
• Students
• External Contractors/ Consultants

In accordance with Manchester Metropolitan University Health and Safety Policy, the Vice-Chancellor and Board of Governors are committed to achieving high standards of health and safety through the effective management of risk.  In order to protect against exposure to ACMs appropriate control measures have been put in place and are detailed below. The policy requires anyone involved with the control of ACMs to fully understand their responsibilities and adhere to this Policy and the supporting AMP

Manchester Metropolitan University recognised its responsibilities and duties under the CAR (2012) and shall take appropriate action to protect the health and safety of students, staff, contractors, and others by effectively managing the risks associated with ACMs identified in the University building stock.

The Estates, Facilities and Campus Development Directorate (EFCD) is responsible for the management of all University properties. As part of this, they shall manage the risks from ACM within university buildings during day-to-day use, operational maintenance and during alteration or refurbishment programmes.  This duty of care will be extended to any facility, building or area which the University leases, rents or uses beyond the recognised University building stock.

Regulation 4 of CAR (2012) places a duty on the University to manage its asbestos through the production and implementation of an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP). The aim of the Asbestos Management Plan is to comply with the duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises.

The policy requires anyone involved with works on the fabric of the building to fully understand their responsibilities and adhere to this Policy and the supporting AMP.

Manchester Metropolitan University accepts that it is the legal “Duty Holder “and has an AMP to comply with its legal obligations.

It is the policy of Manchester Metropolitan University, so far as reasonably practicable, to manage the risks associated with asbestos and to promote a positive asbestos safety culture that manages, reduces, and remediates against the dangers posed by asbestos.

Asbestos will be managed in line with the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012) and the associated Health and Safety Executive Guidance.

It is the policy of Manchester Metropolitan University to:

• prevent so far as is reasonably practicable the exposure of staff, students and other to the health risks associated with asbestos;
• appoint suitably qualified and competent persons to undertake the roles as defined in the guidance document Health and Safety Executive Guidance Document HSG 264 “Asbestos” ‘The survey guide’;
• provide adequate financial and physical resources to implement and maintain the AMP;
• identify and record the presence of ACMs within all University building stock so far as is reasonably practicable and to make assessments of the condition and the risk posed by these items;
• maintain identified ACMs or alternatively restrict access or undertake asbestos abatement;
• remove asbestos from its buildings where the risk cannot be appropriately managed and during refurbishment programmes;
• make information and guidance regarding asbestos management available to all employees who require it;
• employ only competent persons and suitable organisations to undertake asbestos related work at the University;
• review the AMP as a minimum every 12 months but also following statutory or legislative changes;
• manage and maintain asbestos records in line with HSE and University’s guidance and retention periods;
• promote a positive asbestos culture at the University.

Reference should be made to the University Health and Safety Policy and Schedule of Responsibilities for the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Governors, Vice Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer and the University Health & Safety Committee.

Further reference should be made to the AMP which defines additional roles and responsibilities other than those stipulated below within the University -

The responsible person (employer) will be responsible not only for the safety of employees but also for any other relevant persons who are lawfully on the premises.

Key roles and responsibilities

Board of Governors - Duty Holder

• The Board of Governors, as the employer, has the ultimate responsibility for health and safety and is the Duty Holder for University.
• The Board of Governors has delegated the duty of the day-to-day running of the University to the Vice-Chancellor.

Vice-Chancellor - Duty Holder

• The Vice-Chancellor (VC) is responsible for the day-to-day running of the University and is accountable to the Board of Governors.
• The Vice-Chancellor has delegated authority as the head of the institution, for the academic, corporate, financial, estate and human resource management of the institution. View the Scheme Of Delegation.
• Constitutes a University Health and Safety Committee (UHSC) to plan and implement a Health and Safety Policy and the executive arrangements therein, which includes the Asbestos Management Policy. 

University Health and Safety Committee

• The UHSC is accountable to the VC for the planning, consultation and dissemination of the arrangements made within the Health and Safety Policy and Schedule of Responsibilities including the Management of Asbestos Policy and Asbestos Management Plan. 

Chief Property Officer

• Is responsible for the strategy and allocation of approved budget support and other resources for the control of ACMs at the University. 
• Ensures, so far as is reasonably practicable that adequate resources are provided to enable compliance with the AMP. 
• Ensures suitably qualified and competent persons are appointed to discharge the responsibilities within the AMP. 
• Supports asbestos training and development for all who may require it within EFCD. 
• Supports the development and implementation of robust procedures to manage asbestos and control work on the University estate. 

Director of Campus Services

• Ensures, so far as is reasonably practicable, that adequate resources are provided to enable compliance with the AMP. 
• Ensures suitably qualified and competent people are appointed to discharge the responsibilities within the AMP. 
• Cooperates with the Asbestos Safety Team to help ensure compliance within their respective departments they oversee
• Helps to promote a positive asbestos culture. 

Safety and Compliance Manager

• Leads responsibility for the asbestos safety management function. 
• Formally appoints a competent Principal Asbestos Safety Manager, the responsible person. 
• Manages the Principal Asbestos Safety Manager as the competent person for the day-to-day management of ACM. 
• Ensures, so far as is reasonably practicable that the Principal Asbestos Safety Manager is aware of their role and responsibilities and that they are competent to discharge them in entirety. 
• Ensures, so far as is reasonably practicable that the implemented AMP is monitored so that working arrangements and provision of financial, technical, staffing, and other resources are suitable and sufficient to meet its requirements. 

Principal Asbestos Safety Manager - Responsible Person

• Is the designated responsible person for asbestos. 
• Manages the Asbestos Safety team
• Maintains, audits, and updates the AMP and Policy
• Manages and maintains the asbestos register including instructing statutory surveys and re-inspections. 
• Ensures so far as is reasonably practicable that appropriate management actions are in place for all ACMs. 
• Identifies and develops asbestos abatement strategies where management of asbestos in situ is not appropriate. 
• Informs relevant persons of any asbestos products in poor condition that require immediate asbestos management procedures implemented. 
• Provides a quarterly report to the Head of Safety and Compliance 
• Investigates and reports on any asbestos incidents and emergencies. 
• Manages and assesses the suitability of asbestos consultants and contractors and their work. 
• Identifies needs and develops content of asbestos training for university employees. 
• Delivers asbestos training/toolbox talks. 
• Provides technical asbestos support for all University employees and projects. 
• Maintain professional competence and keep up to date with industry and legislative changes. 
• Promotes a positive asbestos culture. 

Director of Health and Safety

• Has overall responsibility for health and safety throughout the University. 
• Works collaboratively with the Asbestos Safety Team. 
• Provides technical support and guidance regarding wider Health and Safety considerations associated with asbestos. 
• Coordinates with and supports the Asbestos Safety Team during investigations and reporting. 
• Audits and inspects the asbestos management arrangements within the AMP. 
• Promotes a positive asbestos culture. 

Heads of Faculty, School, or Service

• Cooperates with the Asbestos Safety Team to help facilitate access and arrangements for any statutory asbestos surveys, inspections or abatement work which may be required within their department. 
• Ensures that the activities/work within their department which could potentially disturb asbestos (work on the building fabric or services) are undertaken through EFCD or are undertaken as per the requirements of the AMP. 
• Identifies and informs the Asbestos Safety Team of any employees whose work may involve disturbing the fabric of the building or services within so that provision for training can be made. 
• Reports any suspect materials, building damage or unsafe working to the Asbestos Safety Team. 
• Considers the potential for asbestos within departmental equipment (in use and during acquisition and disposal) and liaises with the Asbestos Safety Team for support. 

Assistant Directors

• Cooperates with the Asbestos Safety Team to help ensure compliance within their respective departments. 
• Ensures that the activities/work within their areas which could potentially disturb asbestos (work on the building fabric or services) are planned and undertaken as per the requirements of the AMP. 
• Identifies and informs the Asbestos Safety Team of any employees whose work may involve disturbing the fabric of the building or services within so that provision for training can be made. 
• Helps to promote a positive asbestos culture. 

Project/Estates/Facilities/ IT&D/Technical Services - Managers

• Have a working knowledge of the AMP and responsibilities defined within. 
• Undertake work in line with the requirements of the AMP 
• Engage with Asbestos Safety Team during planned refurbishment and development work. 
• Review existing asbestos information and where appropriate instruct asbestos consultants to undertake additional surveys. 
• Provide asbestos information to those undertaking work. 
• Where asbestos abatement works are necessary instruct asbestos consultants to prepare a specification for abatement. 
• Where necessary instruct Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractors (LARCs) to undertake asbestos abatement and asbestos consultants to undertake analytical monitoring. 
• Collate and provide handover information to the Asbestos Safety Team following any asbestos works, including updating the asbestos register. 
• Attend and engage with asbestos training provided. 

Estates/ Facilities/IT&D/Technical Services - Supervisors and Maintenance Officers

• Review and interpret asbestos information prior to allocating work. 
• Provide asbestos information to those undertaking work. 
• Where appropriate seek additional asbestos advice or investigations through the Asbestos Safety Team or external asbestos consultants. 
• Where necessary instruct LARCs to undertake abatement work. 
• Attend and engage with asbestos training provided. 
• Inform Asbestos Safety Team of new positions/persons within their teams who may require asbestos training. 

Employees

• Undertake all work in line with job descriptions, training, methodology and risk assessments. 
• Report any suspect materials, building damage or unsafe working to the Asbestos Safety Team. 

Students

• Avoid damaging or disturbing the fabric of the building. 
• Report any damage and defects through the official University channels. 

External Contractors/Consultants

• Comply with the AMP responsibilities detailed above if undertaking any of these roles on behalf of the University. 
• Review asbestos information and heed asbestos advice provided. 
• If asbestos information is not provided, request it from the Asbestos Safety Team.
• Undertake all work in line with agreed scope, current risk assessments and permits in place. 
• Not undertake any work on asbestos containing materials unless approved by the Asbestos Safety Team. 
• Escalate asbestos concerns to instructing manager and/or Asbestos Safety Team. 
• Have valid asbestos training commensurate with their role. 
• Make suitable provisions to ensure the above is undertaken by any sub- contractors in their employment.

Review of this Policy will occur every two years as part of the University AMP.  More frequent updates will be undertaken if there are changes within the organisation, processes in place, or if the legislative framework or asbestos specific guidance is updated.

• Health and Safety Work Act 1974
• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
• Asbestos Management Plan
• Health and Safety Policy