Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Regulations 13(4), 23(2) and (3) and 24

SCHEDULE 2 THE LABELLING OF RAW ASBESTOS, ASBESTOS WASTE AND PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASBESTOS

1.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of this paragraph, the label to be used on–

(a) raw asbestos (together with the labelling required under the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002(1) and the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) and Use of Transportable Pressure Receptacles Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997);

(b) asbestos waste, when required to be so labelled by regulation 23(3); and

(c) products containing asbestos, including used protective clothing to which regulation 13(2) applies,

shall be in the form and in the colours of the following diagram and shall comply with the specifications set out in paragraphs 2 and 3.

(2) In the case of a product containing crocidolite, the words “contains asbestos” shown in the diagram shall be replaced by the words “contains crocidolite/blue asbestos”.

(3) Where the label is printed directly onto a product, a single colour contrasting with the background colour may be used.

2.  The dimensions in millimetres of the label referred to in paragraph 1(1) shall be those shown on the diagram in that paragraph, except that larger measurements may be used, but in that case the dimension indicated as h on the diagram shall be 40% of the dimension indicated as H.

3.  The label shall be clearly and indelibly printed so that the words in the lower half of the label can be easily read, and those words shall be printed in black or white.

4.—(1) Where a product containing asbestos may undergo processing or finishing it shall bear a label containing safety instructions appropriate to the particular product and in particular the following instructions–

• “operate if possible out of doors or in a well ventilated place”;

• “preferably use hand tools or low speed tools equipped, if necessary, with an appropriate dust extraction facility. If high speed tools are used, they should always be so equipped”;

• “if possible, dampen before cutting or drilling”; and

• “dampen dust, place it in a properly closed receptacle and dispose of it safely”.

(2) Additional safety information given on a label shall not detract from or contradict the safety information given in accordance with sub-paragraph (1).

5.—(1) Labelling of packaged and unpackaged products containing asbestos in accordance with the foregoing paragraphs shall be effected by means of–

(a) an adhesive label firmly affixed to the product or its packaging, as the case may be;

(b) a tie-on label firmly attached to the product or its packaging, as the case may be; or

(c) direct printing onto the product or its packaging, as the case may be.

(2) Where, in the case of an unpackaged product containing asbestos, it is not reasonably practicable to comply with the provisions of sub-paragraph (1) the label shall be printed on a suitable sheet accompanying the product.

(3) Labelling of raw asbestos and asbestos waste shall be effected in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (c).

(4) For the purposes of this Schedule but subject to sub-paragraph (5), a product supplied in loose plastic or other similar wrapping (including plastic and paper bags) but no other packaging, shall be treated as being supplied in a package whether the product is placed in such wrapping at the time of its supply or was already so wrapped previously.

(5) No wrapping in which a product is placed at the time of its supply shall be regarded as packaging if any product contained in it is labelled in accordance with the requirements of this Schedule or any other packaging in which that product is contained is so labelled.

(1)

S.R. 2002 No. 301