Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
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
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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
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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.
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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 …
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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.
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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 …
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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 …
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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
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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 …
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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, …
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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.
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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 …
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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.
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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.
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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 …
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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 …
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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.
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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 …
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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 …
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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.
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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 …
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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 …
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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.
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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 …
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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 …
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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
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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 …
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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 …
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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.
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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.
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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 …
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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.
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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.
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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. …
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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.
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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.
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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 …
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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.
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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 …
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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 …
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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.
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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.
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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 …
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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
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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.
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Department for Work and Pensions