Training & Responsibilities

Which regulation of CAR 2012 requires information, instruction and training?

• ARegulation 4
• BRegulation 7
• CRegulation 10✓
• DRegulation 11

Answer: Regulation 10 covers information, instruction and training. Regulation 4 is the duty to manage — a different obligation on the duty holder.

Who must receive asbestos awareness training?

• AOnly site managers and supervisors with responsibility for others
• BAnyone whose work could disturb the building fabric✓
• COnly workers who have already been exposed to asbestos fibres
• DOnly operatives employed by licensed asbestos removal contractors

Answer: Awareness training is aimed at the trades most likely to come across asbestos unexpectedly — electricians, plumbers, joiners, heating engineers and similar.

What is the main purpose of asbestos awareness training?

• ATo train workers to take air samples and interpret the results
• BTo qualify workers to remove asbestos materials safely themselves
• CTo help workers recognise, avoid and report asbestos✓
• DTo license workers to strip asbestos lagging from pipework

Answer: Awareness is about recognition, avoidance and reporting. Removal, sampling and licensed work all need separate, more advanced training.

How often should asbestos awareness training be refreshed?

• AOnly where an incident or accidental exposure has occurred
• BEvery twenty years, in line with the building survey cycle
• COnce at the start of a career, with no refresher needed after that
• DRegularly, with refresher training as needed — commonly every 12 months✓

Answer: HSE expects training to be kept up to date, and annual refreshers are the common industry practice. It should also be repeated when working practices or the law change.

What is an employer’s duty regarding asbestos training?

• ATo provide it only after an exposure incident
• BTo provide it only to managers
• CTo provide training free, in work time✓
• DTo charge employees for the course

Answer: Health and safety training is the employer’s responsibility and must not be at the worker’s expense. Waiting until after an incident defeats the purpose.

What duty does an employee have in relation to asbestos?

• ATo keep discoveries confidential until the job is complete
• BTo remove any asbestos material they find during their work
• CTo carry out their own air testing before starting work
• DTo follow training and procedures, and to report suspected asbestos✓

Answer: Employees must co-operate with their employer, use controls properly and not endanger themselves or others. Removing or testing asbestos is not their role.

Which of these is NOT a category of asbestos training under CAR 2012?

• AAsbestos demolition supervision✓
• BAsbestos awareness training
• CNon-licensed work training
• DLicensed work training

Answer: The three categories are awareness, non-licensed and licensed. There is no separate "demolition supervision" category — demolition work falls into the existing tiers.

A self-employed contractor works alone in older buildings. Do the asbestos duties apply to them?

• AOnly if they employ at least five people
• BNo, self-employed people are exempt from CAR 2012
• CYes — the self-employed have duties too✓
• DNo, the duties apply only to large companies

Answer: CAR 2012 applies to the self-employed as it does to employers and employees. Working alone does not remove the duty to be trained and to avoid disturbing asbestos.

What should a worker do if asked to carry out work they have not been trained for on asbestos?

• ARefuse and raise it with their supervisor✓
• BAttempt it carefully and hope for the best
• CAsk a colleague to do it instead
• DWatch an online video and then proceed

Answer: Doing untrained asbestos work endangers you and everyone nearby, and is unlawful. Raising it lets the employer arrange a properly trained contractor.

Are medical examinations required for workers doing licensed asbestos work?

• AYes — medical examinations are required✓
• BOnly after an accidental exposure
• CNo, medicals are never required for asbestos work
• DOnly for workers aged over 60

Answer: Licensed work requires medical examinations, generally every two years, plus health records. Notifiable non-licensed work also carries a medical requirement.

Who is responsible for making sure a contractor is given asbestos information before starting work?

• AThe duty holder for the premises✓
• BThe contractor’s previous client
• CThe building’s cleaning contractor
• DThe contractor’s insurance company

Answer: Regulation 4 requires the duty holder to provide information to anyone liable to disturb asbestos, so contractors can plan the work safely.

Why is asbestos awareness training important even for workers who will never remove asbestos?

• ABecause the certificate is required to obtain a driving licence
• BBecause unplanned disturbance causes most exposure✓
• CBecause it allows them to start without checking the register
• DBecause it removes the need for a separate risk assessment

Answer: Most modern exposures happen accidentally — drilling a wall, lifting a tile, running a cable. Recognising the risk is what prevents that.