Can anyone confirm the validation period for an Asbestos Awareness training certificate. I have heard that the certificate is only valid for a year however, if this is the case, where exactly is this stipulated?

Adrian, I don't recall ever seeing the frequency of AAT. I suspect the only place you will find it is on the certificate! The regs or ACoP mention a 'periodical' refresher, which again is open to interpretation. I suggest an annual refresher, possibly in-house is a good benchmark.

I spoke to the HSE ref refresher and they suggested that as long as there had been no significant change to CAR reg then a toolbox by a competent person would cover you. As always they did not want to put it in writing

Thank you to all who have responded to my query.

By the way Donald, I have this as an email from the inspector.

I think others have adequately answered the fact that annual refresher is often seen as good practice. I just wanted to point out that technically the AA cert can't expire as it's not actually training you to do anything. It's not a licence. It's an awareness course. If you understand my drift. The same mistake is made with FLT certs. People refer to them as FLT licences and they are not. They are training certificates that show awareness and competence. They don't expire and there is no legal requirement to have one. It just demonstrates competence. The AA cert just demonstrates that you've been made aware, therefore it can't expire. Annual referesher is just that. Refreshing your awareness. Sorry, just thought I'd say.

UKATA is not the licensing body, nor is IATP. The spirit of both these organisations is about independent auditing of training delivered. Audits are also planned audits unfortunately. Effectively you could send your best trainer on the day of your planned audit! Paragraph 139 (CAR 2006 R10) talks about competency of those providing training. Claire has a valid point that it is simply "awareness" and not training.

'I just wanted to point out that technically the AA cert can't expire as it's not actually training you to do anything. It's not a licence. It's an awareness course. If you understand my drift.' Mmm...is there such a distinction I wonder? After all, there is a specific duty to provide adequate information, instruction and training in relation to asbestos, colloquially known as 'awareness' training. Surely, it carries more weight than providing say FLT training or any other training where there is not a specific duty. Moreover, a comprehensive list of topics is provided in reg 10 and circumstances where training should be provided. Hence more onerous than most training and hardly within the scope of a TBT I would have thought?

Everything has already been said, but CAR 2006 ACOP states: Refresher training 147 Refresher training should be given at least every year and should be appropriate to the role undertaken. Those persons who require only awareness training could have refresher training as part of other health and safety updates. Employers should identify the specific training needs of their employees so that the refresher training can be appropriately tailored. It should not be a repeat of the initial training. Where training needs dictate, refresher training should include an appropriate element of practical training, particularly covering decontamination procedures, use of RPE, and controlled removal techniques. Refresher training will be required more frequently than annually if: (a) work methods change; (b) the type of equipment used to control exposure changes; or (c) the type of work carried out changes significantly. 148 Refresher training should be appropriate to the role, eg licensable work or non-licensable work. Supervisors of licensable work, for example, should receive supervisory refresher training, not operative refresher training and it should be appropriately tailored. Refresher training should include reviewing where things have gone wrong and sharing good practice.