Some processes or products give off dust more easily than others, but work on any of the following activities is likely to produce some asbestos dust or fibre release:

* the removal (stripping) of old asbestos insulation materials from buildings or machinery. This is an activity that is likely to produce very high dust levels and should normally be carried out by a contractor licensed by HSE;
* the manufacture of products wholly or partly made from raw asbestos, e.g. asbestos textiles;

From May 2004 all duty holders have a duty to identify and manage Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) in non-domestic premises. Duty Holders are all those with responsibility for maintenance and repairs on non-domestic premises.

Those in control of premises should:

* Determine the location and condition of any ACMs, presume that materials contain asbestos unless there is evidence that they don’t
* Make a record of the location and condition of ACMs in the premises.
* Assess the risks of how likely anyone is to be exposed to fibres from ACMs

Progress through the processes associated with the implementation of the duty to manage may encourage the need to appoint a competent person to carry out all or part of the work e.g. surveying, asbestos bulk sampling, asbestos removal and asbestos air testing.

* check that their current arrangements for the management of asbestos within their premises are effective and are being applied properly;
* adopt a precautionary approach to maintenance work. Until a proper assessment has been carried out of their premises they must assume that all materials being worked on containing asbestos, adopting the standards set out in 'Asbestos Essentials'. Alternatively they can carry out a 'mini survey' of the material being worked on before the work is done; and

NO

Asbestos is only a risk to health when it releases its fibres. So where the material is in good condition and in a location where it will not be disturbed it should be left in place and effectively managed.

Work with asbestos can release small fibres into the air. Breathing in asbestos fibres can eventually lead to a number of diseases. These include:

* asbestosis or fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs;
* lung cancer; and
* mesothelioma, a cancer of the inner lining of the chest wall or abdominal cavity

However, provided the asbestos is intact, sealed and undisturbed, it will not pose a risk to health.

There are three main types of asbestos - chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite; they are usually called white, brown and blue asbestos respectively. However they cannot be identified just by their colour. Only white asbestos is now used in the UK, mostly for the manufacture of asbestos textiles, gaskets, friction materials such as brake pads and clutch linings, and asbestos cement products.

Blue and brown asbestos (the two most dangerous forms) have not been imported into the UK for nearly 20 years and are now banned by law. However all three types may still be found in: