Recommendations & Conclusions
27 items
1
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Deferred
Asbestos-related illness is one of the great workplace tragedies of modern times. Extensive use of asbestos in the twentieth century accounts for many thousands of deaths. The extreme exposures of the mid- to late twentieth century may be behind us, but its legacy lives on. Asbestos remains in many of …
Read more
Asbestos-related illness is one of the great workplace tragedies of modern times. Extensive use of asbestos in the twentieth century accounts for many thousands of deaths. The extreme exposures of the mid- to late twentieth century may be behind us, but its legacy lives on. Asbestos remains in many of our buildings. The current five-yearly statutory review of the asbestos regulations is an opportune moment for us to assess whether the regulatory framework—and HSE’s contribution to this—is working as effectively as it might.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE's Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR) Post Implementation Review (PIR) will be published later this year and HSE is developing its plan of work to take forward areas from the PIR and will consider using recommendations from the inquiry to inform this work.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
2
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
We recommend that HSE and Government use the conclusions and recommendations from our report to inform both its immediate post implementation review of the asbestos regulations and its longer-term approach to asbestos management. (Paragraph 15) The asbestos risk today
Read more
We recommend that HSE and Government use the conclusions and recommendations from our report to inform both its immediate post implementation review of the asbestos regulations and its longer-term approach to asbestos management. (Paragraph 15) The asbestos risk today
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE has considered whether any of the inquiry findings are relevant to the scope and evidence which was gathered as part of the PIR and will consider using recommendations from the inquiry to inform its plan of work to take forward areas from the PIR.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
3
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
Progress made since the gradual imposition of restrictions on the use of asbestos and its eventual ban in 1999 are no reason for complacency. Understanding the extent to which asbestos fibres are still being released from the fabric of buildings remains vital and requires different methods of analysis. Past measurement …
Read more
Progress made since the gradual imposition of restrictions on the use of asbestos and its eventual ban in 1999 are no reason for complacency. Understanding the extent to which asbestos fibres are still being released from the fabric of buildings remains vital and requires different methods of analysis. Past measurement of fibres in lungs has shown that the lifetime risk from mesothelioma is substantially lower for people born in the late 1960s. For people born in the late 1980s, the risks appear even lower, but the numbers sampled are small and patterns of exposure may be subject to wide variation over time and between people.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE has a Science and Evidence Strategy and Delivery Plan, and will continue to publish findings, but will assess priorities for further research as part of its forward programme, engaging with duty holders for public buildings. They are also trialling new methods for capturing information …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
4
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Not Addressed
Recent HSE data on the relative risk of mesothelioma deaths shows elevated rates for women whose last occupation was education and teaching. However, limitations in death certificate information means that the earlier occupational history of these people—which may be key to understanding the cause of their disease—is not known. Moreover, …
Read more
Recent HSE data on the relative risk of mesothelioma deaths shows elevated rates for women whose last occupation was education and teaching. However, limitations in death certificate information means that the earlier occupational history of these people—which may be key to understanding the cause of their disease—is not known. Moreover, the long latency period before asbestos-related illness develops means that HSE data on relative occupational risk tells us little about asbestos exposures in work settings today. We know relatively little about current levels but, worryingly, we heard accounts from several sources of recent exposures in the workplace and in the home. Our view is that HSE’s efforts to develop the evidence on current asbestos exposure levels in non-domestic buildings are relatively piecemeal. A more structured approach to collecting data and assessing current exposure levels is needed.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states why collecting additional occupational information through death registration or coronial processes would be challenging and thus not recommended.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
5
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
We recommend that HSE develops and implements a robust research framework for the systematic measurement of current asbestos exposures in non-domestic buildings, using a range of measurement and sampling techniques and informed by international experiences and approaches. It should ensure that adequate consideration is given to exposure measurement in schools …
Read more
We recommend that HSE develops and implements a robust research framework for the systematic measurement of current asbestos exposures in non-domestic buildings, using a range of measurement and sampling techniques and informed by international experiences and approaches. It should ensure that adequate consideration is given to exposure measurement in schools and other public buildings. We recommend that HSE publishes its framework by October 2022 and produces findings at frequent intervals thereafter. (Paragraph 31) 48 The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE has a Science and Evidence Strategy and Delivery Plan, and will continue to publish findings, but will assess priorities for further research as part of its forward programme, engaging with duty holders for public buildings. They are also trialling new methods for capturing information …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
6
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Rejected
We also recommend that the Government investigates opportunities to improve the occupational information recorded on death certificates. (Paragraph 32) A strategic approach to asbestos management
Government response AI summary
The Government does not recommend collecting additional occupational information through death registration, citing challenges, potential bias, and the need for collaboration with other departments, stating this approach is not recommended.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
7
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Accepted
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition and are unlikely to be disturbed can be left in place by building dutyholders. Buildings containing asbestos will not last forever and, as HSE acknowledges, we do not know how long some of these materials, left …
Read more
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, asbestos-containing materials that are in good condition and are unlikely to be disturbed can be left in place by building dutyholders. Buildings containing asbestos will not last forever and, as HSE acknowledges, we do not know how long some of these materials, left undisturbed, remain undamaged. Some, including the TUC, have called for a stronger programme of asbestos removal. They argue that a policy of management in situ was always a temporary solution and that accidental disturbances by contractors and others will always happen. They believe that the current regime gives unscrupulous dutyholders too much flexibility to turn a blind eye when confronted with the cost of asbestos removal.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The Government believes that GB currently has a mature and comprehensive plan to managing legacy asbestos risks that aligns with the best evidence currently available through the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the 'duty to manage'.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
8
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Accepted
Wholesale removal is not, however, without its own risk and uncertainty. Despite this, HSE has been slow to invest in research to better understand the costs and benefits of removal and to evaluate options for safer removal. This is becoming a more urgent task. The likely dramatic increase in retrofitting …
Read more
Wholesale removal is not, however, without its own risk and uncertainty. Despite this, HSE has been slow to invest in research to better understand the costs and benefits of removal and to evaluate options for safer removal. This is becoming a more urgent task. The likely dramatic increase in retrofitting of buildings in response to net zero ambitions means that more asbestos-containing material will be disturbed in the coming decades, thus changing the cost-benefit analysis. Simple reliance on a set of regulations which devolve asbestos management to individual dutyholders will not be good enough. There is a need for a cross-government and ‘system-wide’ strategy for the long-term removal of asbestos, founded on strong evidence of what is best from a scientific, epidemiological, financial, and behavioural point of view.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government believes that GB currently has a mature and comprehensive plan to manage legacy asbestos risks, reflected in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the duty to manage, which ensures management of risks of exposure and will eventually lead to the elimination of …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
9
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Accepted
The Minister and HSE told us that their goal was to see asbestos gradually and safely removed from GB’s buildings. We agree with its ambition but greatly regret that neither HSE nor the Government has articulated a clear and comprehensive strategy for achieving this. There is no written down, fully …
Read more
The Minister and HSE told us that their goal was to see asbestos gradually and safely removed from GB’s buildings. We agree with its ambition but greatly regret that neither HSE nor the Government has articulated a clear and comprehensive strategy for achieving this. There is no written down, fully developed, and long-term plan to match the Government’s goal, one that is founded on an analysis of costs and benefits and integrates with wider government policy. Moreover, the Government has so far failed to signal its intent by setting a clear timeframe for the removal of most, if not all, asbestos.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government believes that GB currently has a mature and comprehensive plan to manage legacy asbestos risks, reflected in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the duty to manage, which ensures management of risks of exposure and will eventually lead to the elimination of …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
10
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Rejected
We recommend that a deadline now be set for the removal of asbestos from non- domestic buildings, within 40 years. The Government and HSE should develop and publish a strategic plan to achieve this, focusing on removing the highest risk asbestos first, and the early removal from the highest risk …
Read more
We recommend that a deadline now be set for the removal of asbestos from non- domestic buildings, within 40 years. The Government and HSE should develop and publish a strategic plan to achieve this, focusing on removing the highest risk asbestos first, and the early removal from the highest risk settings including schools. This plan should, in the first instance, commit to improving urgently the evidence around safer asbestos removal and disposal, considering relative costs and benefits. It should integrate with—and take full account of—proposals for the upgrading of the built environment linked to net zero targets and wider waste management strategies.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The Government believes that GB currently has a mature and comprehensive plan to managing legacy asbestos risks and is concerned that moving to a fixed deadline for removal would increase the opportunity for exposure, stimulate poor removal and disposal practices, and significantly disrupt the use …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
11
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
We are unconvinced that a significant further expansion in the use of air monitoring for the routine measurement of asbestos fibres is needed. Clearly, such monitoring is an important component both in assessing sites following asbestos removal work The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management 49 and, potentially, …
Read more
We are unconvinced that a significant further expansion in the use of air monitoring for the routine measurement of asbestos fibres is needed. Clearly, such monitoring is an important component both in assessing sites following asbestos removal work The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management 49 and, potentially, in informing management decisions where, for example, asbestos- containing material is damaged or obscured. It also has an important role as part of any systematic and carefully sampled research programme measuring fibre release. Nevertheless, for routine operational purposes, the balance of opinion we have heard is that regular visual inspection should continue to be the priority.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE will continue to retain its robust understanding of exposure trends and levels of duty holder compliance, assessing priorities for further research as part of its forward programme, prioritising against HSE’s wider research plan on work-related health and safety areas, engaging with duty holders for …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
12
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
We recommend HSE work with others in the UK and devolved governments to continue to review and share the evidence relating to routine, environmental, air monitoring of asbestos fibres. We ask that HSE writes to us in 12 months’ time with an update on Government’s latest assessment of these developments.
Read more
We recommend HSE work with others in the UK and devolved governments to continue to review and share the evidence relating to routine, environmental, air monitoring of asbestos fibres. We ask that HSE writes to us in 12 months’ time with an update on Government’s latest assessment of these developments.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE will continue to retain its robust understanding of exposure trends and levels of duty holder compliance, assessing priorities for further research as part of its forward programme, prioritising against HSE’s wider research plan on work-related health and safety areas, engaging with duty holders for …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
13
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Accepted
Information about asbestos within buildings is often poorly communicated to users and contractors by dutyholders. Surveys and management plans which include critical information on asbestos are not always maintained as living and accessible documents. Opportunities to exploit digital technologies to improve communications on asbestos risks are being missed.
Read more
Information about asbestos within buildings is often poorly communicated to users and contractors by dutyholders. Surveys and management plans which include critical information on asbestos are not always maintained as living and accessible documents. Opportunities to exploit digital technologies to improve communications on asbestos risks are being missed.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE states they recognize the importance of duty holders actively managing information and ensuring it is regularly communicated, and they will be carrying out targeted inspection activity and develop communications activity in this area to support wider inspection work, as well as continuing working with …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
14
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
We recommend that HSE strengthens its work with, and guidance to, dutyholders to make clear their obligations to communicate asbestos information and risks to building contractors and users. We also recommend that HSE works with others in Government to sponsor improvements in how information on asbestos in buildings is communicated …
Read more
We recommend that HSE strengthens its work with, and guidance to, dutyholders to make clear their obligations to communicate asbestos information and risks to building contractors and users. We also recommend that HSE works with others in Government to sponsor improvements in how information on asbestos in buildings is communicated and used, drawing on lessons from the use of digital technologies in building management and in the health response to the pandemic.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE will carry out targeted inspection activity across GB workplaces to check compliance with legal duties and will look to develop communications activity to support this wider inspection work and will continue its work with duty holders and those in charge of estates strategies for …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
15
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
Whether building dutyholders are complying with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations is largely unknown. HSE collects some data from its programme of inspections, but these cover a tiny fraction of the non- domestic premises that contain asbestos. HSE doubts whether a central register of information on asbestos …
Read more
Whether building dutyholders are complying with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos Regulations is largely unknown. HSE collects some data from its programme of inspections, but these cover a tiny fraction of the non- domestic premises that contain asbestos. HSE doubts whether a central register of information on asbestos would give it better compliance data. Our view is that the exercise of reporting data centrally will, in some cases, cause dutyholders to commission surveys and update records of asbestos in their premises if they know their data is being shared centrally and may be subject to external review. The resulting database would offer a sampling frame for enforcement activity and could be analysed to inform a risk-based and targeted enforcement approach. It would also provide important background data to support a longer-term strategic approach to managing the asbestos legacy. We acknowledge, however, that it would be for others in government, such as the Government Digital Service, to lead on developing a central register and the concept would need careful testing.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's view on a central register of information on asbestos, but suggests that a new central register would duplicate existing information with no clear indicator that asbestos exposure risks would be improved, and that HSE will develop targeted communications activity to …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
16
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Rejected
We recommend that HSE works with others in government to develop a central digital register of asbestos in non-domestic buildings, describing its location and type. In the first instance, the concept of a central register could be tested using asbestos data from public buildings such as schools and hospitals. In …
Read more
We recommend that HSE works with others in government to develop a central digital register of asbestos in non-domestic buildings, describing its location and type. In the first instance, the concept of a central register could be tested using asbestos data from public buildings such as schools and hospitals. In the meantime, we also recommend that HSE conducts research which complements its inspection programme to identify the extent to which dutyholders are, in fact, complying with their obligations under the asbestos regulations. (Paragraph 83) 50 The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management HSE’s enforcement and campaigning
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE argues that a central register would duplicate existing requirements and would require significant resource from dutyholders and government, with no clear indicator that asbestos exposure risks would be improved.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
17
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Accepted
HSE has experienced significant cuts in government funding. Lower grant funding has been partly mitigated by the introduction of its fee for intervention ‘cost recovery’ model but this cannot be used to target inspections of licensed asbestos removal work. It is not surprising, therefore, that HSE’s asbestos enforcement activity has …
Read more
HSE has experienced significant cuts in government funding. Lower grant funding has been partly mitigated by the introduction of its fee for intervention ‘cost recovery’ model but this cannot be used to target inspections of licensed asbestos removal work. It is not surprising, therefore, that HSE’s asbestos enforcement activity has reduced in recent years. However, the scale of decline is remarkable when compared with HSE’s enforcement activity overall, despite no specific and compelling evidence that compliance with the asbestos regulations has improved dramatically during this time. HSE accepts that part of the recent reduction in asbestos enforcement work stems from having to divert experienced inspectors to support the training of new recruits which reduced capacity. It says that it expects to increase the number of asbestos inspections in 2022/23. This is welcome but needs to be sustained over the longer term, not least because fulfilment of the Government’s net zero ambitions presents considerable asbestos exposure risks as buildings are updated.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE's business plan includes details of how HSE's activities are funded and sets out how HSE will deliver a range of different regulatory interventions and activities based on intelligence, targeting the most serious risks, focusing on industries with the greatest hazards and sectors with the …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
18
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Accepted
We recommend that HSE commits to a sustained increase in inspection and enforcement activity targeting compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations. Repeating our recommendation from June 2020, the Government and DWP should ensure that it provides adequate funding to HSE to support this increased programme of work over the …
Read more
We recommend that HSE commits to a sustained increase in inspection and enforcement activity targeting compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations. Repeating our recommendation from June 2020, the Government and DWP should ensure that it provides adequate funding to HSE to support this increased programme of work over the medium term. HSE should also identify wider lessons from its planned inspection programme for dutyholders in 2022/23, considering whether it needs to specify minimum knowledge, training or other requirements for people performing this critical role.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE's commitment to focus on the risks related to managing asbestos exposure is a long-standing feature of its Business Plan, but budgets are not specifically allocated to individual risks such as asbestos exposure, because inspections and investigations focus on multiple potential risks.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
19
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
HSE promotes understanding of the dangers of asbestos, technical knowledge exchange and compliance with the asbestos regulations through its participation in domestic and international networks. HSE has also previously invested in significant campaigns targeting those occupations most likely to be exposed to asbestos. Campaigns such as ‘Hidden Killer’ were widely …
Read more
HSE promotes understanding of the dangers of asbestos, technical knowledge exchange and compliance with the asbestos regulations through its participation in domestic and international networks. HSE has also previously invested in significant campaigns targeting those occupations most likely to be exposed to asbestos. Campaigns such as ‘Hidden Killer’ were widely regarded as successful. However, HSE has invested less in this behavioural work in recent years, seemingly because of a lack of resources. Witnesses also described an absence of similar interventions targeting dutyholders. For those campaigning activities that do continue—through social media for example—HSE cannot say with certainty what their long-term impact is.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE strives to ensure legal compliance and safety is enabled through clear and accessible guidance, they will look at communications activity around asbestos to ensure that opportunities to raise awareness with trades people most at risk of exposure, are maximised, prior to beginning any refurbishment …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
20
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
HSE should commit to investing more in sustained campaigning work across a range of media, using multiple interventions and synchronising with the development of its wider strategy for asbestos management. It should employ robust evaluation methods to test what messages and which methods achieve the greatest impact on the behaviours …
Read more
HSE should commit to investing more in sustained campaigning work across a range of media, using multiple interventions and synchronising with the development of its wider strategy for asbestos management. It should employ robust evaluation methods to test what messages and which methods achieve the greatest impact on the behaviours of dutyholders and tradespeople. (Paragraph 102) Regulating the asbestos industry
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE strives to ensure legal compliance and safety is enabled through clear and accessible guidance, they will look at communications activity around asbestos to ensure that opportunities to raise awareness with trades people most at risk of exposure, are maximised, prior to beginning any refurbishment …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
21
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
Currently in Great Britain, some asbestos removal work does not need to be undertaken by a licensed contractor but some of this will still need to be notified to HSE before work starts. The three-way categorisation of work is confusing and of questionable value. Reducing the number of categories and …
Read more
Currently in Great Britain, some asbestos removal work does not need to be undertaken by a licensed contractor but some of this will still need to be notified to HSE before work starts. The three-way categorisation of work is confusing and of questionable value. Reducing the number of categories and requiring a greater proportion of asbestos removal to be done by licensed contractors—possibly by The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management 51 further tightening the control limit on expected asbestos fibre exposures or reducing the types and conditions of asbestos materials that are exempted from licensed work—could lead to fewer accidental exposures and better disposal practices. There is, however, a risk that extending the requirement to use licensed contractors could have unintended consequences and any changes will need to be considered carefully. HSE should use its five-yearly review of the asbestos regulations to assess the merits of the current categorisation of asbestos works.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE will consider how to develop greater clarity around the categorisation of asbestos work, potentially simplifying the categories, and will develop further with stakeholders, subject to a full impact assessment and consultation.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
22
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that HSE considers how it could consolidate, tighten, and simplify the current categorisation of asbestos works as part of its 2022 statutory review of the Control of Asbestos Regulations. Its review should carefully assess the net behavioural impacts and costs of any changes.
Read more
We recommend that HSE considers how it could consolidate, tighten, and simplify the current categorisation of asbestos works as part of its 2022 statutory review of the Control of Asbestos Regulations. Its review should carefully assess the net behavioural impacts and costs of any changes.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE will consider how the current categorisation of asbestos works could be developed further with stakeholders, considering simplification of categories set out within the regulations. Any change to the regulations would be subject to a full impact assessment and consultation.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
23
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
Asbestos surveyors have an important role in helping dutyholders to identify and manage asbestos in premises. We have heard concerns about the variable quality of surveys. It is not clear to us why the regulatory and quality requirements for asbestos surveyors should be less stringent than for analysts who must …
Read more
Asbestos surveyors have an important role in helping dutyholders to identify and manage asbestos in premises. We have heard concerns about the variable quality of surveys. It is not clear to us why the regulatory and quality requirements for asbestos surveyors should be less stringent than for analysts who must be UKAS- accredited.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE engages with various stakeholders to ensure standards and competence are maintained for asbestos surveyors and will now engage with stakeholders to consider this further and how they can collectively ensure competence throughout the system.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
24
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
Despite their requirement to be accredited, the work of analysts continues to be compromised by regulatory arrangements which allow licensed asbestos contractors to commission their own analysts to check their work. We heard disturbing accounts from several sources that the current model undermines the independence of this critical quality check. …
Read more
Despite their requirement to be accredited, the work of analysts continues to be compromised by regulatory arrangements which allow licensed asbestos contractors to commission their own analysts to check their work. We heard disturbing accounts from several sources that the current model undermines the independence of this critical quality check. Witnesses told us that one simple way of improving standards would be to make it a requirement for the building owner or client to employ the analyst in all circumstances.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE recognizes the evidence presented to the inquiry and will engage with stakeholders to consider how the guidance in HSG248 Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide can be reinforced further regarding analyst independence.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
25
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
We recommend that HSE makes it mandatory for all people conducting asbestos surveys to be accredited by a recognised accreditation body. We also recommend that HSE assesses the impact of making it a legal requirement for building owners or occupiers to commission accredited asbestos analysts to check asbestos work done …
Read more
We recommend that HSE makes it mandatory for all people conducting asbestos surveys to be accredited by a recognised accreditation body. We also recommend that HSE assesses the impact of making it a legal requirement for building owners or occupiers to commission accredited asbestos analysts to check asbestos work done on their premises and, by extension, making it illegal for asbestos removal contractors to do so.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE will engage with stakeholders to consider further how to ensure competence is enabled throughout the system regarding asbestos surveys and will engage with stakeholders to consider how guidance can be reinforced further regarding analysts being independently sourced and employed by the building owner or …
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
26
Conclusion
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
HSE has an important role in monitoring international developments in approaches to managing asbestos risk, assessing the balance of evidence, and commissioning its own research to understand workplace patterns of asbestos exposure and behaviour. The direction of travel in Europe is towards tighter regulation of asbestos and lower exposure limits …
Read more
HSE has an important role in monitoring international developments in approaches to managing asbestos risk, assessing the balance of evidence, and commissioning its own research to understand workplace patterns of asbestos exposure and behaviour. The direction of travel in Europe is towards tighter regulation of asbestos and lower exposure limits which rely on greater use of electron microscopy techniques. These changes may have practical and financial consequences for the way asbestos is managed, including when and how it should be removed. HSE has said that developments in Europe may not necessarily be grounded in the real-world experience of asbestos exposure and a more pragmatic approach is warranted. It also told us that part of the problem in Great Britain is that asbestos is so widespread. Our concern is that an asbestos regulatory policy which prioritises only that which is immediately practical risks tolerating poorer health standards and higher costs over the longer-term.
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE will review any robust, peer-reviewed evidence on exposure levels that show tangible health benefits for GB workers and will continue to monitor international developments in this area and the evidence base.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions
27
Recommendation
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Ex…
Acknowledged
We recommend HSE ensures its current review of the Control of Asbestos Regulations includes a thorough written assessment of moves towards more stringent asbestos 52 The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management occupational exposure limits in Europe. It should carefully consider their application to the GB context, taking …
Read more
We recommend HSE ensures its current review of the Control of Asbestos Regulations includes a thorough written assessment of moves towards more stringent asbestos 52 The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management occupational exposure limits in Europe. It should carefully consider their application to the GB context, taking full account of costs and benefits. It should ensure that the extent of the asbestos legacy in Great Britain is not seen as reason to tolerate poorer health standards. (Paragraph 128) The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management 53
Show less
Government response AI summary
HSE will review peer-reviewed evidence on exposure levels that show tangible health benefits for GB workers and will conduct a full consultation and cost benefit analysis before introducing any changes to asbestos occupational exposure limits.
Read full response →
Department for Work and Pensions