The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987

Prevention or reduction of exposure to asbestos

8.—(1) Every employer shall—

(a) prevent the exposure of his employees to asbestos;

(b) where it is not reasonably practicable to prevent such exposure, reduce to the lowest level reasonably practicable the exposure of his employees to asbestos by measures other than the use of respiratory protective equipment.

(2) Where, in pursuance of paragraph (1), it is not reasonably practicable to reduce the exposure of an employee to below both the control limits which apply to that exposure, then, in addition to taking the measures required by that paragraph, the employer shall provide that employee with suitable respiratory protective equipment which will reduce the concentration of asbestos in the air inhaled by the employee to a concentration which is below those control limits.

(3) Respiratory protective equipment provided in pursuance of paragraph (2) shall be of a type approved or shall conform to a standard approved in either case by the Executive for the purposes of this regulation.