Do I Need A Refresher Of My Asbestos Training?

A quick and easy article for those people who are wondering about refresher courses when it comes to asbestos training.

For this article the asbestos training which I will refer to is:

• Cat A – Asbestos Awareness Training
• Cat B – Non-Licensed Asbestos Training
• Duty to Manage Asbestos Training

The Law:

Regulation 10 – Information, Instruction & Training of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 is very clear when it comes to refresher training.

Refresher should be given every year, or more frequently if:

• work methods change;
• the type of equipment used to control exposure changes;
• the type of work carried out changes significantly; or
• gaps in competency are identified.

So, there it is. As an absolute minimum you must undertake a refresher of your asbestos training every 12 months. Failure to do this is a contravention of the regulations and current law. Remember as above this is the minimum, you may need it more often. However, refresher training every 12 months is definitely a good place to start.

Why is refresher of asbestos training required?

Asbestos Awareness (Cat A) Refresher Training

When it comes to asbestos awareness training refresher the main reason for the update is as a reminder. For those that require asbestos awareness training, usually, their normal day to day roles will not need them to have huge interaction with asbestos related issues and tasks.

Whenever people have training in something that they do not tend to use on a daily basis it is very easy to forget or to remember things differently over time. Refresher of asbestos awareness training keeps people’s knowledge fresh and up to date. That way if they do have a reason to call upon that knowledge, they have a better chance of remembering the relevant information.

Additionally, the asbestos industry is always being reviewed and looked at. Practices, approved codes of practice, guidance and regulations tend to change over time. Refresher training for asbestos awareness ensures that people are kept up to date with relevant changes to guidance and best practice.

How long does asbestos awareness refresher training take?

On average refresher training for asbestos awareness takes approximately 2 hours.

Asbestos Non-Licensed (Cat B) Refresher Training

If you have had asbestos non-licensed training then it is probable that you undertake work on non-licensed asbestos. You may be undertaking this work daily. Over time with any hands-on role it is very easy to slip into bad habits and forget what the original training taught you.

Part of refresher training for non-licensed asbestos work is to remind people of best practice and to answer questions which they may now have given experience with the work over the last 12 months.

Refresher training for non-licensed also allows those attending to have specific instruction on task and work which they are doing that may have changed since they last did their training. For example, workers may be involved in a lot of asbestos textured coating removal. This may not have been the plan when they did the initial training. Refresher is a good opportunity to provide detailed instruction on specific items like this.

As with asbestos awareness, the asbestos industry is always being reviewed and looked at. Practices, approved codes of practice, guidance and regulations tend to change over time. Refresher training for non-licensed ensures that people are kept up to date with relevant changes to guidance and best practice.

How long does asbestos non-licensed refresher training take?

On average refresher training for non-licensed asbestos work takes approximately 2 to 4 hours.

Duty to Manage Asbestos Refresher Training

When it comes to duty to manage asbestos refresher training the main focus will be on ensuring that the candidate still has a firm grasp on the legal requirements placed on asbestos duty holders.

The initial training covers many aspects which are required under the regulations. It is usually the case that all the requirements placed on duty holders are undertaken over a period of several months. In many cases it may take duty holders longer than 12 months to get everything in place and compliant. As such the refresher training gives them much needed reminders on all requirements. It also gives them an opportunity to ask further questions which may have arisen following their 12 months of putting the original training into practice.

And as with other training any relevant updates to regulations, approved codes of practice and guidance can be covered to ensure the candidates are fully up to date.

How long does duty to manage asbestos refresher training take?

On average refresher training for the duty to manage asbestos takes approximately 2 to 3 hours.

Conclusion:

If you have had asbestos training of any type, the law requires this training to be refreshed as a minimum every 12 months. To book your refresher training course speak to a member of the team or apply on line here.