The Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Designated areas

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

(a) an asbestos area, subject to regulation 3(2), where any employee would be liable to be exposed to asbestos in that area;

(b) a respirator zone where the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air in that area would exceed or would be liable to exceed the 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 respirator 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 the control limit and 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 as an asbestos area or a respirator zone, 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 only competent employees shall—

(a) enter a respirator zone; and

(b) supervise any employees who enter a respirator zone,

and for the purposes of this paragraph a competent employee means an employee who has received adequate information, instruction and training.

(5) 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.