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Fears of asbestos spark check ups
00:00 19 Aug 1998
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by Carol Millett
Serious concerns about the way councils handle asbestos removal have prompted the Health and Safety Executive to launch a campaign which will see HSE inspectors paying surprise visits to councils .
The HSE is to target 40 councils in a series of spot checks. HSE inspectors will investigate how councils ensure the safety of their building and maintenance workers and the public when carrying out work on council property. The HSE is particularly concerned about council policy on the removal of asbestos from schools, leisure centres and housing stock.
HSE principal inspector Brian Anfield said: "Local authorities have duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations towards the health and safety of their employees and contractors carrying out maintenance and building work on housing stock and other premises. However, nationally there have been failures to comply with these duties in relation to risks from asbestos."
The inspections will determine:
l Policies in relation to asbestos.
l The arrangements in place to find out where asbestos is.
l How information is communicated to people at risk.
l How contractors and maintenance people are selected.
l How the authorities check the competencies of contractors.
l How the authority monitors contractors and maintenance workers.
The London Hazards Centre welcomed the HSE campaign this week. LHC advice worker Mick Holder told CJ: "This is a much- needed programme. Inspecting 40 councils across the country does not go far enough but at least all councils will now be aware that they have got to make a strong effort to manage the asbestos that they have in their schools and other properties."
l Yesterday, construction union Ucatt stepped up its campaign for a complete ban on asbestos by lobbying members of the Health and Safety Commission who met to discuss whether to end asbestos imports. The protest was called by the Construction Safety Campaign. Ucatt general secretary George Brumwell, a TUC representative on the HSC, said: "We have seen no evidence to justify the delay in banning this killer dust which will be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in this country."
Serious concerns about the way councils handle asbestos removal have prompted the Health and Safety Executive to launch a campaign which will see HSE inspectors paying surprise visits to councils .
The HSE is to target 40 councils in a series of spot checks. HSE inspectors will investigate how councils ensure the safety of their building and maintenance workers and the public when carrying out work on council property. The HSE is particularly concerned about council policy on the removal of asbestos from schools, leisure centres and housing stock.
HSE principal inspector Brian Anfield said: "Local authorities have duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations towards the health and safety of their employees and contractors carrying out maintenance and building work on housing stock and other premises. However, nationally there have been failures to comply with these duties in relation to risks from asbestos."
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The inspections will determine:
l Policies in relation to asbestos.
l The arrangements in place to find out where asbestos is.
l How information is communicated to people at risk.
l How contractors and maintenance people are selected.
l How the authorities check the competencies of contractors.
l How the authority monitors contractors and maintenance workers.
The London Hazards Centre welcomed the HSE campaign this week. LHC advice worker Mick Holder told CJ: "This is a much- needed programme. Inspecting 40 councils across the country does not go far enough but at least all councils will now be aware that they have got to make a strong effort to manage the asbestos that they have in their schools and other properties."
l Yesterday, construction union Ucatt stepped up its campaign for a complete ban on asbestos by lobbying members of the Health and Safety Commission who met to discuss whether to end asbestos imports. The protest was called by the Construction Safety Campaign. Ucatt general secretary George Brumwell, a TUC representative on the HSC, said: "We have seen no evidence to justify the delay in banning this killer dust which will be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in this country."
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