What regulations does Great Britain have to reduce  asbestos risks?

Much has been done in Great Britain to control the risk from asbestos. The use, supply and importation of asbestos and asbestos products has been banned for all but a few exceptions by the Asbestos (Prohibition) Regulations.

Work with asbestos generally requires a licence and the use of strict control measures, including personal protective equipment such as respirators.

The fact that a wide range of people now have the potential to be exposed to asbestos – particularly workers involved in building maintenance – led to the latest revision of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations which introduced (from May 2004) a duty on those responsible for commercial premises to manage the asbestos contained in them.