These Regulations amend the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984 (“the 1984 Regulations”).

The Regulations amend the definition in the 1984 Regulations of work with asbestos insulation and asbestos coating so as to cover only the work which consists of the removal, repair or disturbance of asbestos, and work which is ancillary to or supervising such work (regulation 2(2)).

The Regulations extend the 1984 Regulations so as to prohibit an employer or self-employed person carrying out work with asbestos insulating board without a licence (regulation 2(3) and (4)(a)) and require such work to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (“the Executive”) (regulation 2(3)).

The Regulations extend the circumstances in which the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland may revoke a licence (regulation 2(4)(b)).

The period for notification to the Executive of work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating or asbestos insulating board is reduced from 28 to 14 days (regulation 2(5)).

The Regulations make additions to the 1984 Regulations so as to specify the premises and activities within United Kingdom territorial waters adjacent to Northern Ireland to which the 1984 Regulations apply (regulation 2(6) and (7) and the Schedule).

In Great Britain the corresponding Regulations are the Asbestos (Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/3233). The Health and Safety Executive has prepared a cost benefit assessment in relation to those Regulations and a copy of that assessment, together with a Northern Ireland Supplement prepared by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, is held at the offices of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland at 83 Ladas Drive, Belfast BT6 9FR, from where copies may be obtained.