The Process, Step By Step
- Review the survey, register and current building use.
- Identify gaps, responsible people and priority actions.
- Set out monitoring, contractor information and incident arrangements.
- Put the plan into use and review changes in risk.
A Plan Is More Than A Register
An asbestos register records known or presumed materials and where they are located. A management plan explains how the building’s asbestos risks will be controlled in day-to-day use. Keeping a survey report in a folder does not tell a maintenance team what they must do before starting work.
Start with the quality of your existing information. Check whether plans, sample references and material locations agree with the current building layout. If a report contains exclusions or a subsequent fit-out has altered the premises, identify the gap before relying on it for maintenance decisions.
Define Responsibilities And Actions
The plan should identify the person responsible for managing asbestos and the people who carry out checks and follow-up actions. Allocate actions with clear priorities and records of completion. Explain who will arrange specialist advice when materials deteriorate or planned work changes the risk.
Responsibility can be split between landlord, tenant and managing agent, depending on maintenance obligations. Record these interfaces rather than assuming a lease removes every duty. For multi-site portfolios, use a consistent approach while keeping each building’s register and access arrangements specific to that location.
Make Information Reach Contractors
A useful plan explains how contractors receive asbestos information before they enter the work area. Link this to permits, induction and procurement procedures. A contractor should know which locations remain uninspected and what happens if a task moves beyond the agreed scope.
Keep a record of the information shared and who received it. A general notice at reception is not a substitute for discussing the materials a job could disturb. Maintenance requests should trigger a review of the register before drilling, fixing, cable routing or other intrusive work is authorised.
Monitor Changes In The Building
Monitoring should consider the condition of materials and the likelihood of disturbance in their actual setting. Set an inspection programme based on risk and record the findings. Review the plan when use changes, materials are damaged or new survey and removal information becomes available.
An inspection entry needs enough detail to compare condition over time. Record photographs, location and any action taken. If a material cannot be identified again from the existing report, resolve that practical problem rather than simply carrying forward the same register entry.
Scope And Cost Of Plan Support
The work depends on the number of buildings, quality of records and amount of site verification required. A written plan for one office differs from a portfolio review with multiple tenants and maintenance teams. Clarify whether the scope includes a site visit, reinspection or document review only.
Send the existing survey, register and any current management procedure with your enquiry, or describe what is available. We can discuss the gaps and the required outcome. The dutyholder retains responsibility for putting the plan into practice and keeping it current after the document has been prepared.
Your Project Handover Checklist
Before accepting the final documents, check that the site address, inspected locations and agreed scope match the instruction. Ask for any restrictions to be explained in terms of the work you intend to carry out, with a clear next action for unresolved areas.
Keep a controlled copy where your facilities and project teams can find it. When responsibility passes to a new manager or contractor, transfer the records with the building information and explain any outstanding actions. A useful handover makes the limits of the evidence as clear as the findings.
Standards And Guidance
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 govern work with asbestos. The required competence, methods and records depend on the task. Use the relevant HSE guidance below alongside a site-specific assessment, and ask the proposed firm to confirm the credentials and scope appropriate to your instruction.
Management Plans Questions
Who Has The Duty To Manage?
The duty to manage asbestos in commercial premises generally follows responsibility for maintenance and repair. This can involve an owner, landlord, tenant or managing agent, depending on the arrangements. Check the lease and maintenance responsibilities together, and record who controls the register, contractor information and actions rather than relying on a job title alone.
How Much Does A Survey Cost?
Asbestos survey cost depends on the building, the investigation required and the access arrangements. Sample numbers, plant rooms, voids and occupied areas can all affect the scope. Ask for a proposal that identifies the survey type, deliverables and exclusions, then compare those details. Provide drawings and a description of the premises for a meaningful quotation.
Related Asbestos Services
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