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Non-Licensed Work with Asbestos

Last Update a month ago

What should a worker's health record look like for notifiable non-licensed work? What is notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)? How much notifiable non-licensed work does a worker need to do before the requirement for a medical applies? Why do the requirements in the 2012 regulations for medical surveillance for NNLW have a 3-year transition period? What is the short duration work mentioned in the regulations?

Guidance on large-scale removal of asbestos-textured coatings (>1m2)?

Despite being a notifiable non-licensed task, this is not covered in Asbestos Essentials - 'A task manual for building, maintenance and allied trades of non-licensed asbestos' (HSG210). Task sheet A28 covers small-scale guidance only e.g. around 1m2, in preparation for other maintenance work.


However, large-scale removal is detailed in the 'Managing and working with asbestos' - Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012(L143), ACOP and guidance, Reg 16, paragraph 386:


“386 For other non-licensable work”

  • full enclosures must be used where there is risk of airborne or significant internal physical contamination (eg from debris);
  • a full enclosure should be used for large-scale work (eg on textured coatings);
  • a mini-enclosure may be used where work is minor;
  • where a full enclosure is used for non-licensable work, air extraction airflow rates as specified for licensable work should be used.*


* A mini-enclosure is a small enclosure or tent used to prevent the spread of contamination without air extraction. A partial enclosure is neither fully enclosed nor provided with air extraction. A full enclosure includes airlocks and negative pressure air extraction. Other than for activities such as preventing spread during large-scale removal of textured decorative coatings, most non-licensed work with asbestos will not require a full enclosure. Where a full enclosure is used, the airflow rate should not be less than 500 m3/hr. The reference to licensable work rates at the end of paragraph 386 is a target flow rate which should be aimed for, in a manner that is proportionate to the risk.


In summary, the HSE would like to see full enclosures built for large-scale textured coating removal (>1m2).


The UKATA non-licensed work with asbestos training does not specifically cover the extra elements for this type of work, such as NPUs, enclosures, airlocks, etc. However, this can be added as an extra half-day of training by UKATA members after completion of the UKATA non-licensed training course.

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