What Can Go Wrong?
Asbestos in various forms has been used very widely in many building products, as a reinforcing fibre in many plastics and as an engineering product in applications such as brake linings. Its wide use stems from it being chemically inert, light and strong, and because it is very stable when exposed to heat.
Asbestos, inhaled as dust can cause Lung Disease (Asbestosis), Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma (a cancer associated only with exposure to Asbestos). People who smoke are at greatly increased risk.
Asbestos when incorporated into a solid material (concrete, bitumen, plastic) poses very little risk until that material suffers mechanical damage (being, cut, broken, drilled, sanded, exposed to extreme heat or explosion).
Workplace will decide if Asbestos needs to be removed. Asbestos will not normally be removed unless there is a danger of disturbing it during works or a danger of future disturbance.
Legal / BBC Requirements
- Control measures with the words Must or Must Not are mandatory under BBC rules.
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Control Measures
General Controls
- Asbestos in BBC Premises is managed by BBC Workplace, there is a detailed Asbestos Management Strategy that must be adhered to. You must employ the controls below
- Report any suspected damage and / or any suspicious material which is not labelled to BBC Workplace Service Centre: Tel 0490 (internal); 0808 1688 962 (external).
- Contact BBC Workplace Service Centre before conducting any work (building, fitting out, cable pulling, etc) on the fabric of the building. They will contact a specialist who will tell you if you need to have a survey carried out.
- Check the Asbestos Register for the building if you are conducting work on the fabric.
- You must not work on Asbestos Containing Material.
- You must not work in any area where fibres are present above the clearance level.
- Call BBC Safety / BBC Occupational Health if you are concerned you may have been exposed to asbestos (see our Contacts page in the top banner). See also our Safety Short "Health Information - Inadvertent Exposure to Asbestos" in Useful Documents.
Managers Controls
- Managers must identify staff who might be at risk, arrange awareness training via Academy
- For buildings where there is not a permanent Facilities Management presence the Manager with day to day responsibility for a building (for example the Managing Editor) must appoint “Appointed Person Asbestos” to hold a copy of the asbestos register for the building and to ensure that precautions are in place.
Emergency Arrangements
If you know or suspect that asbestos containing material has been disturbed the take the following action:
- Move other people away from the vicinity.
- Close doors if possible.
- Tell your manager.
- Contact BBC Workplace Service Centre: Tel 0490 (internal); 0808 1688 962 (external).
- Email: [email protected]
- Report the incident on myRisks.
Role of Workplace
- Appoints, manages, and monitors service partner to manage asbestos.
- Manages relationship with third party landlords, tenants and occupiers of shared premises.
- Via service partner:
- Holds asbestos register.
- Ensures information is acquired and passed on when buildings are acquired or disposed of.
- Funds all asbestos works.
- Manages incidents.
Role of BBC Safety
- Advises on the investigation of incidents.
- Keeps records of incidents.
- Provides general advice.
Useful documents
- BBC Organisation and Arrangements for the Management of Asbestos[BBC Network only]
Recommended links
Premises and sets topics
Sets & Premises safety guide
This Safety Guide collates those of our Safety Guidelines relating to construction activities (on sets or other structures, including under 'CDM') and to the occupation / use of building premises (studios or locations).
Access Services
This site is for BBC Employees or potential future employees only. If you are not a BBC employee or looking for further information regarding BBC Access Services then please click on another page from the menu above, where you can find out more about Remploy.
Asbestos Management on BBC premises
This is a summary of the way that asbestos is managed in BBC Buildings. It supplements the information about managing asbestos on productions.
CDM Overview
Legislation to ensure the safe design and construction of structures was updated in April 2015, namely the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
CDM 2015 - The BBC Approach
Guidance on the practical application of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 across the BBC
First Aid in BBC Premises
This page describes how first aid is arranged in BBC premises. It supplements the guidance to first aid on productions. It is aimed at people who need to decide what provision to make for first aid on BBC premises. It also provides the arrangements and numbers for contacting ambulances and the National Central Control Room (NCCR).
Legionella in Premises: Control of
This guidance provides an overview of how water systems are managed in premises to minimise the risks from the Legionella bacteria.
Permit to Work in BBC Buildings (Restricted Work)
Some work in BBC buildings is restricted and you have to get permission, called a Permit To Work (PtW) to do it.
Pressure Systems
A guide to pressure systems in buildings. Pressure Systems include all plant/systems that contain a ‘relevant fluid’, defined as steam or gas under pressure and liquids under pressure which become gases upon release to the atmosphere, at a pressure greater than 0.5 bar (about 7psi) above atmospheric (except for steam). Around the BBC there are heating, fuel transfer, compressed gas and hydraulic systems used in program production, studios (e.g. Camera Peds), office and maintenance facilities.
Sets: Safety of
This Safety Guideline is concerned with the construction and use of production sets and associated scenery used in studios and on locations.
More from SSR
Safety Hub
Your platform to record accidents, risk assessments, assurance monitoring and inspectionsSafety Equipment Stores
Just one number to call: 020 3614 5155BBC Safety Guidelines
An A-Z of BBC's Safety GuidelinesContact your Safety Team
Safety Advice Line: 0370 411 0464 Email: [email protected]
- A-Z of BBC Safety Guidelines
- Find my Safety Adviser (BBC Network only)
- Accident Reporting and Investigation
- BBC Health & Safety Policy
- Contractors (incl. vetted lists)
- Contributors
- Fire Safety
- Freelancers
- Independent Production Companies
- Risk Assessment
- Safety Alerts
- Safety Responsibilities
- Safety Training
- Sets & Premises Safety Guide
Events guidance - key links:
Health topics - key links:
- Access Services (BBC network only)
- Contributors Fitness to Participate
- Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
- Employee Assistance Programme (BBC network only)
- First Aid and Welfare on Location
- International Travel - Risks & Health
- Manual Handling
- Mental Health: Homepage
- Occupational Health Referrals & Advice (BBC network only)
- Personal Health and Wellbeing
- Pregnancy
- Psychological Trauma Support & Trauma Risk Management (TRiM)
- Tiredness and Fatigue
- Travel Health Contacts
BBC High Risk - key links:
BBC Journalism - key links:
BBC Productions - key links:
- Aerial Filming and Airfields
- Animals: Displaying and handling for performance
- Boats: Working on
- Children and Young People
- Driving
- Electrical Equipment and Systems
- First Aid and Welfare on Location
- Food Safety (Cooking and Catering)
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- Roads and Streets: Working by
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- Tiredness and Fatigue
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS aka Drones)
- Vehicles: Recording in, from and around
- Working at Height: Mobile Elevating Work Platforms
- Working at Height: Tower Scaffolds
BBC Radio - key links:
- Corporate Security Home (BBC Network only)
BBC Security - key links:
BBC Sport - key links:
- Broadcast: Presentation and Linking Positions
- Broadcast Vehicles
- Buildings used for ...temporary studios (HSE)
- Electrical Equipment and Systems
- Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (DCMS)
- Managing H&S at Motorsport Events (HSE)
- Safety in Broadcasting Sports Events (HSE)
- Sports Events: Recording or Filming
- Vehicles used in Sports Coverage
About this site
This site describes what the BBC does in relation to managing its health, safety and security risks and is intended for those who work directly for the BBC.
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