Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 and 2010

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos)(Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 589 of 2010) were signed by Dara Calleary, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on the 8 December 2010.

These Regulations give effect to Directive 2009/148/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work.

Those Regulations amend the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 386 of 2006).

The Regulations apply to all work activities which expose persons to risks arising from the inhalation of dust from asbestos or materials containing asbestos.  The Regulations provide a single exposure limit value for all work activities where exposure to asbestos dust in the air at a place of work may arise.  The Regulations also emphasise the need for adequate training. Those involved in demolition and asbestos removal activities must provide evidence of their ability to do this work in a safe way to ensure the protection of their employees.