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 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 responsibility for asbestos changed further when I was appointed as part of the team to train HSE Inspectors for licensed inspection work. I took the opportunity to redesign parts of the course to ensure greater practical content. The changes included: physically inspecting ventilated enclosures, modified enclosure entry and exit procedures, full decontamination exercises and incorporation of RPE facefit tests.

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 affecting the asbestos sector over the last 20-30 years not least the banning of the use of all asbestos in the EU in 1999 and the legislation amendments including the introduction of the “duty-to-manage” and the reduction in the airborne “Control Limit”.

In my view, the industry has stepped up to the challenges. The industry has become more professional, has better control equipment and procedures and is better trained. This has been achieved by the contribution of many organisations and individuals and the more integrated approach now adopted through working

groups and consultation arrangements. I would highlight the contributions of the asbestos trade associations, the training bodies, the numerous consultants and professional bodies, as well of-course the involvement of HSE (particularly ALU and asbestos inspectors). I would also highlight the work of F-DEM (the Federation of (asbestos) Decontamination Equipment Manufacturers) in the last few years and their development of more sophisticated control equipment and monitoring systems.

During your time at the HSE, what would you say is an achievement you are most proud of?

I am very fortunate to have been involved in several significant pieces of asbestos work during my career in HSE. These have included the publication of a number of important HSE asbestos guidance documents (including the Analyst’s Guide, the Licensed Contractor’s Guide, the Survey Guide and the forthcoming revised Analyst Guide (to be published in 2021)).

I was also part of the HSE teams which produced the various sets of revised Asbestos Regulations and ACOPs in 2002, 2006 and 2012 and I was the HSE/UK representative on the committee which published the EU guidance on asbestos in 2006 (“Guide on Best Practice”). These documents could not have been as complete without the contributions (through the consultation process) of the other previously mentioned organisations.

What are your thoughts on the UK’s approach to managing asbestos to those taken in the EU and USA?

I am not aware of the approach to manage asbestos in the USA so I can’t comment on the comparison with the UK. What I can say though is that the UK probably has a more stringent and robust asbestos policy than other European countries.

The UK has not only implemented the various EU Asbestos Directives over the years but has also introduced other significant requirements to further manage and control asbestos. These requirements include operating a licensing regime for working with the most hazardous forms of asbestos and placing duties on owners/occupiers of buildings to manage asbestos in their properties.

Have you some particular activities planned to enjoy in retirement?

My plan in retirement is to relax, try to keep fit (for a “pensioner”) and, of-course, get round to doing those domestic tasks which have been ignored for ages!

Who has inspired you in life and why?

I have been inspired by many people during my life but most notably my father, Harry, who taught me how to work hard and complete things to the highest standard, my PhD supervisor at Glasgow University (Dr John Farmer) who instilled in me the importance of scientific rigour, and my wife, Mary, who (as an English teacher) has tried to keep me grammatically correct and has been a source of immense encouragement.

Brexit could affect Health and Safety legislation in the UK and specifically asbestos removal. Have you any thoughts on this?

As already outlined above, the UK already has a strict policy on asbestos. This has been based on the EU Directives which the UK had a fundamental role in developing. The EU has plans to tighten the asbestos requirements further. The danger from BREXIT, in my view, is that the UK will not be inclined to adopt further risk reduction measures which could lead to inferior arrangements particularly compared with the EU best practices.

Martin, thank you for taking the time to talk to me. From myself and all at ARCA we wish you a happy retirement.

Sarah Haslam, Editor