Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Designated areas

17.—(1) Every employer shall ensure that any area in which work under his control is carried out is designated as–

(a) an asbestos area, where the exposure to asbestos of an employee who worked in that area for the whole of his working time would exceed or would be liable to exceed the action level; and

(b) a respirator zone, where the concentration of asbestos in that area would exceed or would be liable to exceed a relevant control limit.

(2) Asbestos areas and respirator zones shall be clearly and separately demarcated and identified by notices indicating–

(a) that the area is an asbestos area or a respiratory zone or both, as the case may be; and

(b) in the case of a respirator zone, that the exposure of an employee who enters it is liable to exceed a relevant control limit and, if it does, that respiratory protective equipment must be worn.

(3) The employer shall not permit any employee, other than an employee who by reason of his work is required to be in an area designated in accordance with paragraph (1), to enter or remain in any such area and only employees who are so permitted shall enter or remain in any such area.

(4) Every employer shall ensure that–

(a) his employees do not eat, drink or smoke in an area designated as an asbestos area or a respirator zone; and

(b) arrangements are made for such employees to eat or drink in some other place.