What does the law say?
Definitions
- Exposure to asbestos
- : exposure to fibres originating from asbestos or from asbestos-containing materials.
- Bonded asbestos
- is well bound to other substances. The asbestos fibres are firmly anchored in the carrier material. As long as it stays in good condition and is not worked or demolished, hardly any fibres are released. The anchoring of the fibres does decrease, however, as the material ages.
- Examples: asbestos-cement products such as corrugated sheets, under-roof sheets, pipes, door and window panels, as well as asbestos-containing floor coverings such as vinyl, bitumen, roofing products and seals based on cement, plastic or glue.
- Friable asbestos
- : the asbestos fibres are poorly anchored in the carrier material, so that they are released very easily when the material weathers or is worked.
- Examples: asbestos-containing ceiling panels, plasterboard, plaster insulation around central-heating pipes; sprayed asbestos or asbestos-containing fabrics and ropes.
- Simple handling
- : methods of removing asbestos or asbestos-containing material in which the risk of asbestos being released is in all cases so limited that the concentration of 0.01 fibres per cm³ is not exceeded.
In summary
- Mandatory annual training for all workers who are exposed to asbestos and who carry out simple handling.
- Companies that want to demolish and remove asbestos must be accredited.
- Workers who demolish and remove asbestos (or asbestos-containing materials), and site managers, follow a basic training course with annual refresher training.
- Duration and content are laid down by law.
- For this the employer calls on an external body.
What the Code says literally
Legal text
“The employer provides appropriate training to all workers who are exposed to asbestos. This training is given annually.”
“Only workers who have completed the basic training with annual refresher training may carry out the demolition and removal of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. The basic training lasts at least 32 hours and the annual refresher 8 hours. To provide this training and refresher, the employer calls on a body external to the company.”
“Only companies accredited under the provisions of this decree may bear the designation ‘Asbestos-removal company accredited by the Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue’ and carry out demolition or removal work that may release significant quantities of asbestos.”