A CONVERSATION WITH
Martin Gibson Recently I caught up with Martin Gibson who is now enjoying retirement after 34 years working for the Health & Safety Executive
What was your first job? My first job was as a Research Associate in Analytical Chemistry at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh in 1984. I was involved in research into the environmental impact of North Sea oil platforms and installations. I had recently graduated from the University of Glasgow with a PhD from the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science.
How did you get into the world of asbestos? I joined HSE in Edinburgh in 1986 as a Chemical Inspector (later renamed as a Specialist Inspector) with a remit in Occupational Hygiene (OH). A Chemical Inspector’s role involved assessing workplace exposure to hazardous substances and agents including asbestos. This was a period when asbestos products (primarily asbestos cement (AC) materials) were still being manufactured in the UK. My early involvement with asbestos therefore was a combination of inspection of workplaces where there
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arca & atac news · spring 2021
was potential exposure to asbestos fibres (e.g. manufacturing AC roof sheeting or changing vehicle brake pads) and investigation of incidents of asbestos disturbance. During this time, I was promoted to Principal Specialist Inspector and was managing the Scotland OH specialist team. My asbestos role changed significantly in 1996 when the Asbestos Licensing Unit (ALU) moved to Edinburgh and I was given responsibility to provide “technical” support to the Unit and to Inspectors involved in licensed inspection work. In 1999, my
After just over 34 years with the HSE you must have seen many changes across the asbestos industry. What do you feel has been the biggest challenges faced by the asbestos industry? Health and Safety never stands still and this is true in the asbestos sector as in other industries. Changes bring challenges and opportunities for improvement. There have been numerous changes
responsibility for asbestos changed
affecting the asbestos sector over the last
further when I was appointed as part
20-30 years not least the banning of the
of the team to train HSE Inspectors
use of all asbestos in the EU in 1999 and
for licensed inspection work. I took
the legislation amendments including
the opportunity to redesign parts of
the introduction of the “duty-to-manage”
the course to ensure greater practical
and the reduction in the airborne
content. The changes included:
“Control Limit”.
physically inspecting ventilated
In my view, the industry has stepped
enclosures, modified enclosure entry and
up to the challenges. The industry has
exit procedures, full decontamination
become more professional, has better
exercises and incorporation of RPE face-
control equipment and procedures and is
fit tests.
better trained. This has been achieved by the contribution of many organisations and individuals and the more integrated approach now adopted through working
