Select committee: Work and Pensions Committee
Conclusion 11
Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management
Published 21 Apr 2022
Paragraph 62
Addressed to Department for Work and Pensions
Work and Pensions Committee Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
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.
From: Work and Pensions Committee, Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management (HC 560), paragraph 62, 21 April 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 21 July 2022 (deadline 21 June 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response agrees with some recommendations in part, with HSE committing to targeted work in 2022/23, while the government declines a fixed removal deadline for asbestos and does not recommend changing the collection of occupational information on death certificates.
- On a central register of asbestos, HSE's evidence was that it would duplicate existing duty holder information "with no clear indicator that asbestos exposure risks would be improved". Instead, HSE "will develop targeted communications activity" on managing risks and sharing information.
- On a removal deadline, the government "remains concerned" that a fixed deadline "would increase the opportunity for exposure". It says it could only advocate proactive action if there is "compelling evidence", and that "At present this evidence is not there".
- On exposure limits, HSE says the science behind a lower limit "is not certain at this stage". It "will continue to monitor international developments", including "any change to the exposure limit in GB".
- HSE says it will carry out targeted inspections of GB workplaces during 2022/23 to check compliance with duties to inform those at risk of asbestos locations, including 'duty to manage' inspections in schools.