The regulation doesn't distinguish by employment status
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 apply to self-employed people as they apply to an employer and an employee, treating a self-employed person as both. In practice, that means if you carry out licensed or notifiable non-licensed (NNLW) asbestos work on a self-employed basis, the same medical surveillance duty that would sit with your employer sits with you directly.
What this means in practice
- You arrange your own medical, on the same 2-year (licensed) or 3-year (NNLW) cycle as an employed worker.
- You're responsible for keeping your own certificate and health record, for the same retention periods (4 years and 40 years respectively).
- If your work is NNLW, notifying it to the enforcing authority before it starts is also your responsibility.
- If you work for a contractor or on a site as a subcontractor, it's worth confirming with them whether they expect to see your certificate before work starts.
Not sure which category your work falls into?
Read our full requirements page for how licensed, notifiable non-licensed and non-notifiable work are distinguished.