Asbestos Policy Statement (December 2023)

This policy statement supports our Health and Safety Policy and sets out our approach to managing asbestos. It applies to all YHN staff, board members, volunteers and contractors who are carrying out services on behalf of YHN, including consultancy and agency staff.

Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) recognises its responsibility under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012), to control the hazards associated with asbestos and asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and is committed to establishing, implementing and maintaining an effective system of managing ACMs.

YHN will, as far as reasonably practicable, prevent exposure to asbestos as a consequence of its organisational activities, protecting its employees, contractors, partners, customers and others from contracting asbestos related diseases.

To meet this commitment YHN will:

Assess all operational buildings and communal areas of domestic dwellings for the presence of ACMs and establish an effective up to date asbestos register
Put in place a programme to assess all domestic dwellings for the presence of ACMs
As a minimum, comply with the requirements of CAR 2012 in provision of training, suitable and sufficient risk assessments, establishing effective asbestos management plans and appointing suitably competent contractors to undertake asbestos removal, abatement, analytical, surveying and inspection works
Take reasonable steps to ensure the risks from asbestos are managed for all YHN’s operations (including asbestos in buildings, civil engineering structures, service installations, fly tipped ACMs and asbestos buried in the ground)
Inform tenants about the risks from asbestos in the home and provide general guidance
Make this asbestos policy available to all interested parties and promote good and safe practice with regards to asbestos management; ensure the asbestos policy, AMP(s) and relevant procedures are communicated to all relevant employees
Review, monitor and update the AMP(s) on a regular basis and implement structured reviewing arrangements to confirm the asbestos management system is adequate and effective and that required actions are being carried out