Q. When do I need a licence to work with asbestos?

A. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, in the vast majority of cases if you are working with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating or asbestos insulating board you will need to hold a licence. You will also need one if you use a scaffold to create an enclosure for working with asbestos.

If you have no intention of working with asbestos you do not need a licence. In addition, you do not need a licence to work with asbestos if you:

• are involved in short duration work (within any 7-day period a single job lasts less than one hour per worker or two hours in total);
• do air monitoring;
• collect bulk samples to identify asbestos;
• do clearance inspections.

Also, you now need a licence even if you are working with asbestos within your own premises using your own employees (this was exempt from licensing requirements in the previous regulations).

Important: We will only grant a licence to those who plan to do work. Although you may not need a licence to carry out a particular job, you will still need to make sure that you comply with general rules detailed under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 to prevent exposure to asbestos.

Please note: For most jobs, it is an offence to work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating or asbestos insulating board without a licence and you could be prosecuted.

Q. What is the application process?

A. This falls into 3-stages:

1. Stage 1 - Application: you complete an application form (FOD ASB1) and return it to us, together with the appropriate fee;
2. Stage 2 - Assessment: we arrange for one of our inspectors to assess you;
3. Stage 3 - Decision: we let you know the outcome i.e. send you a licence or explain what more you need to do to get a licence.

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Stage 1 - Application

Q. How do I apply for a licence?

A. Contact the HSE Infoline for details on how to obtain a FOD ASB1 application form.

Important: Once you receive the application form, please make sure that you read and complete the form carefully. The form is a legal document and must be signed by someone with authority within your company, such as the Managing Director or Company Secretary. If you are an English or Welsh partnership, all of the Partners must sign the form. Please state your correct legal name if you are a limited company, a PLC or a limited liability partnership.

Please note: It is a criminal offence to make a false declaration.

Q. How long does this process normally take?

A. For new applicants, we aim to complete the process within 28 days of receiving your correctly completed application form and fee. For renewal applicants, we aim to complete the process within 5 days of your licence expiring.

Q. What is the fee for the licence assessment process?

A.The current fee is  £1,160.

Important: We also make a charge for the re-assessment, amendment or replacement of a licence.

1 Fee for re-assessment of licence application	2 Fee for amendment of condition, or duration, of licence	3 Fee for other amendment, or replacement, of a licence
£300	£300	£80
Note: unsuccessful assessment

Q. Why do I have to pay a fee?

A. The Government requires HSE to recover the full costs (no more and no less) from licensing certain `high risk` industries. The costs that we incur in running the licensing scheme are recouped from the asbestos industry.

Important: The cost of the fee is reviewed each year and can rise as well as fall, depending on the level of our involvement and our expenditure. The fee process is subject to both internal and external audit.

Q. Do I need a separate application form for different types of licence?

A. No. The FOD ASB1 is the general form used for all licence applications and you can use this to apply for the following:

• Full licence: you are working with asbestos insulation or asbestos coating or asbestos insulating board (one or more);
• Supervisory licence: you don’t actually do the work yourself but you are appointed to directly supervise and control another licence holder who does the work;
• Ancillary licence: you build enclosures for asbestos work or you are erecting scaffolding which forms the framework for an enclosure or which provides access for work and which may disturb asbestos.

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Stage 2 - Assessment

Q. What will the inspector assess me on?

A. You will undergo a formal assessment to test your theoretical knowledge and your practical experience. You should have a good understanding of relevant and current legislation. You will be expected to have an adequate policy for work with asbestos, including clear arrangements covering the roles and responsibilities of personnel. You should also have appropriate arrangements in place for:

• Training
• Medical certification
• Respiratory protective equipment (RPE), including face-fit tests
• Hardware (negative pressure units (NPUs), decontamination units (DCUs), vacuum cleaners etc)
• Maintenance of records

Important: You will not get a licence without being able to demonstrate management/supervisory competency, including recent training. Also, employees must have appropriate training, RPE, face-fit testing and medical surveillance (where necessary) before any work with licensable material is carried out.

Please note: If you are at all unsure, you may wish to postpone the assessment until you are confident that you are able to study and understand these requirements.

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Stage 3 - Decision

Successful assessment - licence issued

Q. What should I do with my licence when I receive it?

A. Keep it in a safe place.

Important: You should also display a copy of the licence at every site where you are working.

Q. How long does my licence last for?

A. Your first licence will (normally) last for one year. Renewal licences (normally) last for three years, depending on our assessment of your performance.

Important: If you have a licence but did not carry out any work during the licence period, we will explore the reasons for this with you. We will normally only issue you with a one-year licence on renewal, subject to successful assessment. (Remember, if you do not intend to do any work with asbestos, then we will not grant you a licence).

Q. Will my licence have any special conditions?

A. Yes. Although your licence may have more, almost all licences have 3 standard conditions on them, summarised as:

1. you must display your licence or a copy of it, at every work site;
2. you must notify the relevant enforcing authority (HSE or your local authority) at least 14 days in advance that you intend to work with asbestos;
3. you must send a suitable and sufficient method statement and equipment specification with each notification.

Important: We also have the power to amend, alter or revoke your licence depending on your performance.

Please note: Some conditions on licences issued to `recruitment agencies` may be slightly different. These agencies are organisations that don`t actually do work with asbestos themselves but supply trained asbestos operatives to other licence holders licences.

Q. How do I renew my licence?

A. You will need to fill in another FOD ASB1 form and send us the correct fee.

Important: We will write to you 2-3 months before your licence ends to remind you that your existing licence is about to run out. We will send you another FOD ASB1 form and let you know how much it costs.

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Unsuccessful assessment - licence not issued

Q. If I am unsuccessful, what happens next?

A. We will write to you explaining why we are not giving you a licence. From the date of this letter, you have 4 months to rectify the matters that need attention.

Please note: There is a charge for reassessments.

Q. Where can I see more details about the licensing process?

A. Please see the Asbestos Licence Assessment Guide (ALAG) [453KB] for more information. The guide provides information on the asbestos licensing regime and sets out the standards required by the applicants.