This is a little bit of a grey area for myself, it states in CAR 2006 that asbestos awareness training should be carried out at regular intervals IS THIS ANNUALLY! and does every operative need it or could just the team leader possess it and instruct the rest of the operatives if an incident was to occur.We are an electrical company carrying out works for housing associations.

AS I RECALL THE REQUIREMENT FOR REFRESHER TRAINING IS ANNUALLY BUT IF YOU READ THROUGH HSG 264? IT SAYS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES THAT ALTHOUGH TRAINING NEEDS TO BE REFERSHED ANNUALLY THIS DOES NOT AND SHOULD NOT JUST RE-ITTERATE ALL THE ORIGINAL TRAINING I.E. REPEAT THE SAME FULL TRAINING COURSE. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAINING IS MORE TO ENSURE WORKERS ARE KEPT UP TO DATE WITH CHANGES TO REGULATIONS, BEST PRACTICE, TECHINIQUES, THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE FORM OF OFFICIAL TRAINING COURSES BUT CAN BE IN THE FORM OF TOOL BOX TALKS, IN HOUSE TRAINING ETC...

HI Guys, my understanding is that the training should be specific to the tasks at hand and this also applies to the refresher training. Don't forget to include any potential new areas of risk. Stephen Smith Sphere Risk Health And Safety Management LTD http://www.sphererhsm.co.uk

I'd have to say yes.

Mods are a bit slow off the mark on this one!! [insert smiley face] Andy

Same here - some time back I had a post pulled for mentioning (not promoting) an organisation for safety professionals. It appeared to rustle some feathers. Jon

It states 'refresher training' should be given AT LEAST once a year and it should be tailored to meet the training needs of the individual, taking into account their experience, skills, knowledge, frequency of the work and their performance. Every operative who may disturb Asbestos in the course of their work MUST have A/A Training. Don't wish to worry you but in UKATA's presentation, it states that each week, 6 Electrician's die from Asbestos related disease (compared with 3 plumbers) so the operatives are in a high risk occupation. I trust you have asked the H.A. for the results of any surveys they have had?

Leerob, the answer to your question lies within the L143 CAR06 ACoP - available as free pdf from HSE site. Awareness training must be at least annually and provided to ALL employees likely to come into contact or disturb ACM - whether by accident or design. ACoP on Reg 10 of CAR 06 is very specific in stating that refresher SHOULD NOT be a regurgitation of initial formal training, rather it may be a briefing on internal procedures, emergency arrangements or discussion of findings and actions arising from a related incident or near miss. In short- it doean't mean an annual outlay of formal training by external provider for all your employees and refresher can be delivered in-house by competent experienced supervisors or managers.

Quite a few postings pullied consequential to the sins of AN Other. Jon

Totally with Ron on this. In fact I could well argue that the PC or contractor could be obliged under the regulations to provide specific training for the project if asbestos is known to be present or could be present due to age of the structure. This would then constitute refresher training. I personally am against constant repitition of identical training courses, even more so where operatives encounter such situations on a reasonably regular basis. We should be endeavouring to raise knowledge and hence competence but this lazy use of the same course every 12 months actually, I believe, can switch off people from the message. Imagine if a practitioner was asked to attend a basic risk assessment course every 12 months. The words "bored to death and distraction" come to mind. It is aqctually the same problem as the CSCS test only in spades - repitition of the same material Bob

I deliver Asbestos Awareness Training, and members of the IATP, Independent Asbestos Training Providers, and there has always been this "grey area" we have recently had a communication from HSE at Bootle Quote: Refresher Training (ACOP L143 Paragraph 147) Under Regulation 10 CAR 2006 employers have to ensure that every employee received relevant information, instruction and training and that this is given at regular intervals. The relevant parts of the ACOP then build on this regulation to clarify the 3 types of training, content and who should receive each type of training. Paragraph 147 sets out the requirements for refresher training. Refresher training is applicable to all types of asbestos training including awareness training and should be given at least once a year. For workers who have previously received awareness training their refresher training can included as part of a health & safety update or a tool box talk. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the person or training provider, delivering the refresher training, in whatever format, is competent to do so. The important point is that the worker is reminded and remains aware of the dangers of asbestos fibres. By following the ACOP including this paragraph the employer will be doing enough to comply with the law." It carries on into what should be on training certificates etc., , If anybody would like a copy of the full letter i would be pleased to email it!!

Frankc, itwas not my intention to offend you. I fear you havemisconstrued my post.

Frankc and Ron I think we are basically on the same hymn sheet but many PCs, Clients and potentially UKATA are not in the same place. For reasons of their own they want to see repitition of teh acop syllabus - so demonstrating a possible lack of confidence in the subject. I do think though that too many safety and other persons think they are capable of delivering the training even as TBT. It is a subject that does require definitive experience of working with asbestos in some manner. Bob

Thanks Ron. If i could use the term 'money making scam' on here and point it in a certain direction, you know what my target would be. Training/Refresher Training needs to be clarified by the HSE and the accredited bodies for A/A.

Couldnt agree more! it is the main large Principle Contractors who are asking for UKATA or IATP certs every year. and the membership rates that UKATA charge for training providers has got to be recouped, hence pushing of courses every year. Yes, I am a member of IATP but my "customers" are the smaller contractors, who enjoy low cost but quality training!! and our now accepted as well as UKATA ones.....