Recommendation 5

Compliance with health and safety protocols, in particular reporting asbestos incidents, remains unsatisfactory. The Clerks have personal responsibility for the health and safety of those working and using the Palace. To fulfil this responsibility, they will rely on others, such as contractors working within the Palace to follow expected processes and meet any requirements. Following our June 2022 report, the Clerks agreed they needed to improve health and safety incident processes, and said they had reviewed and updated Parliament’s safety escalation arrangements. However, despite the Clerks’ reassurances, existing processes are not operating effectively. For example, in September 2022 a contractor did not inform the Clerks of an asbestos incident or limit the dangers as quickly as expected. Fortunately, the asbestos discovered on that occasion in a roof void was not dislodged, but it could easily have been broken up as the contractor drilled through to gain access. This would have resulted in a far more serious incident. To help mitigate these risks, the Clerks have appointed a new Health and Safety Director and have been compiling an incidents database. Recommendation 5: Before embarking on the more substantial R&R works, the Clerks must set out how they will reiterate the importance to contractors of their responsibilities and contractual requirements, particularly concerning the timeliness and accuracy of reporting, and what they will do to hold them to account for meeting these responsibilities. Restoration & Renewal of the Palace of Westminster – 2023 Recall 9 1 Progressing the works