ASBESTOS DEADLINE REJECTED BY GOVERNMENT

[LAST YEAR the Parliamentary committee on Work and Pensions published the report of its inquiry into how the Health and Safety Executive manages the continued presence of asbestos in buildings.

The committee found out about the current risks posed by asbestos in the workplace, the groups of people who are most affected and how well the current laws and regulations for the management of asbestos are working.

With asbestos still in around 300,000 non-domestic buildings and a likely dramatic increase in disturbance from net-zero retrofitting, the committee said that reliance on the current asbestos regulations will not be good enough. It concludes that a cross-government and ‘system-wide’ strategy for the long-term removal of asbestos is needed.

The report calls for the government and Health and Safety Executive to back up their stated goal of removing all asbestos by committing to a clear time frame and strategy. The plan should strengthen the evidence base on safe and effective asbestos removal in the first instance before prioritising removal from the highest risk settings, including schools.

The committee called for a deadline of 40 years for that goal to be achieved.

In response the government rejected the committee’s key recommendation of committing to a strategy with a 40-year deadline to remove all asbestos from public and commercial buildings.

Commenting on the government’s response, the committee chair Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP said: “The government argues that fixing a deadline for asbestos removal would increase the opportunity for exposure, but the risk is likely to increase anyway with the drive towards retrofitting of buildings to meet net-zero aspirations. Setting a clear target should just be one part of a new properly joined-up strategy.

“This strategy should prioritise the highest-risk buildings and urgently boost the evidence base for the safe removal and disposal of a material that is still the single greatest cause of work-related fatalities in the country.” q affect them in later life like it is affecting older tradespeople now.”

Craig Evans, chief operating officer of the United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), said: “I wholeheartedly support HSE’s campaign to raise asbestos awareness and the importance of training across industry. The dangers of asbestos are very real, with over 5,000 people in the UK dying each year from asbestos-related diseases.

“It is crucial that tradespeople are aware of the risks involved in disturbing or damaging asbestos-containing materials, as inhaling these fibres can lead to devastating diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

“UKATA members are committed to providing high-quality asbestos training, delivered by highly-experienced and competent professionals with extensive knowledge and expertise in their field, to help prevent unnecessary exposure and protect the health and wellbeing of all those working in the industry.”

If asbestos cannot be safely managed, it should be removed by a licensed asbestos contractor. Where it is present, asbestos should be closely managed by those responsible for the building. q