Asbestos Policy

Policy statement

The University of Bristol is required by law to manage the risks of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) on its premises and acknowledges the health hazards arising from exposure to asbestos. Campus Division is fully committed to complying with all legislative and regulatory requirements. It also adheres to Approved Codes of Practice, as applicable, to estate buildings owned or leased, and operated by the University. This is to ensure that such materials do not pose a health or safety risk to staff, students, contractors, visitors, and members of the public.

Campus Division will take a positive approach to controlling and reducing any potential exposures to asbestos fibres within premises under their control or where work is undertaken on its behalf. This will be achieved by:

• proactively identifying asbestos in buildings
• undertaking assessment of potential exposure during normal working routines
• having in place effective management controls to reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres (as low as reasonably practical). 

Where remediation is required, Campus Division will ensure appropriately competent, licensed, insured, and experienced organisations are appointed.

The Asbestos Policy, Asbestos Management Plan and supporting procedures apply to all parts of the University estate where Campus Division has a duty. This applies, without exception, wherever asbestos is present or liable to be present.

The Campus Division policy is to:

• Provide a safe environment for employees, students, contractors, visitors, and members of the public. This is done by preventing exposure to the hazards associated with ACMs.
• Promote awareness of the hazards of ACMs and the Campus Division Asbestos Management Policy, Management Plan and supporting procedures. This is done through effective training and communication with employees and contractors.
• Provide and maintain an asbestos register for each premises within the University estate, under the remit of Campus Division. This is accessible to staff, contractors, stakeholders, and any other party undertaking work on the University estate that may be liable to disturb asbestos, including emergency services.
• Implement an effective asbestos management plan. This is so that appropriate control measures, such as monitoring, encapsulation, sealing, labelling, inspection, or removal of the material are undertaken.
• Regularly review the Campus Division Asbestos Policy, Asbestos Management Plan and supporting procedures to assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the arrangements detailed within.
• Ensure that only appropriately competent, insured, and experienced organisations are to remediate or remove asbestos. Also to make sure, where required, that such organisations hold a license from the HSE in order to undertake such work.
• Provide clear and concise emergency response procedures should there be an uncontrolled disturbance of ACMs.

ISO clause reference

This policy has been written in line with ISO45001:2018, clause 5.2 OH&S Policy.

Version controlled document

A controlled document is managed through version control, ensuring all changes are tracked and a single, consistent version is used across teams. Campus Division staff can find a controlled version of the Asbestos Policy on the Integrated Management System. The current version is 5.