Recommendation 5

HM Government Acknowledged

HSE has a comprehensive published Science and Evidence Strategy and an associated Science and Evidence Delivery Plan which set out HSE’s planned science and research activity to underpin its regulatory activity. This includes commitments during 2020–2023 relating to ergonomics and asbestos removal and asbestos levels in GB workplaces. HSE will continue to publish the findings in scientific journal papers and the HSE Research Reports series when new findings are available. The duty to manage the exposure risk from asbestos rests with those in charge of non- domestic buildings or, in terms of actively working with asbestos, those in charge of managing this work. As set out in HSE’s evidence to the inquiry, asbestos fibres are measured routinely as part of any active licensed work with asbestos to ensure that the work area is clear for re-use and also to monitor the exposure of the asbestos workforce. However, it is crucial that HSE continues to retain its robust understanding of exposure risks and any emerging evidence in this area, considering international developments and working with other government departments such as the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs who lead on air quality. In its evidence to the Committee, HSE provided details of a number of strands of research activity, including research it has undertaken on exposures to workers, population trends in asbestos lung burdens, and levels of duty holder compliance. It will assess priorities for further research as part of its forward programme. This research will need to be prioritised against HSE’s wider research plan on work related health and safety areas. As part of this work, we will continue to engage with duty holders for public buildings, and importantly, those in charge of estates strategies to ensure that asbestos exposure risks are managed and understood. HSE are also developing and utilising new methods for capturing information about duty holder compliance with health and safety regulations. Specifically, using codified recording of compliance indicators will help HSE to analyse the steps being taken by duty holders to manage risks of exposure to asbestos. This approach will be trialled as part of our planned asbestos ‘duty to manage’ inspections in schools during 2022/23 and will support understanding of how duty holders do and don’t comply with the law, which will inform future activities.