Regulator warns to keep people safe from future dangers of asbestos
On Monday 15 January, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched Asbestos: Your Duty. The goals of this initiative are to improve the understanding of what the legal duty to manage asbestos involves.
HSE asks anyone with responsibilities for buildings to do everything in their power to comply with the law and protect people from being exposed to the dangerous substance.
Asbestos was widely used in post-war construction, especially between 1950 and 1980, before it was banned in 1999. Businesses and organisations responsible for premises built before the turn of the century must carry out the necessary checks and understand their legal responsibilities.
Updated information, templates and explanatory videos for anyone who is unsure of their obligations can be found on the HSE’s website.
HSE are going to visit building such as schools, hospitals and workplaces to ensure that those responsible for managing asbestos have the correct arrangements in place. People who visit or work in these buildings will not be exposed as long as asbestos is properly contained, but it can become dangerous if it is disturbed or damaged.
Sarah Albon, HSE’s chief executive said: “To keep people safe from the harms of asbestos, a culture of safely managing asbestos is needed in our building industry and among those responsible for buildings.
“Asbestos exposure in Great Britain is still the single greatest cause of work-related deaths due to exposures decades ago.
“Together, we must protect people in the workplace and reduce future work-related ill health.”
Exposure to asbestos can result in fibres being inhaled and embedded in the lungs. Our personal injury team specialises in asbestos-related disease claims including: asbestosis; mesothelioma; lung cancer; and pleural thickening.
Laura Nabozny, head of our personal injury team said: “The effects of working with asbestos can be devastating, therefore we welcome this new initiative which will ensure more protection for workers and place greater accountability with building owners.”
Our team specialises in asbestos-related diseases. To make an enquiry into an asbestos compensation claim, please call us on 033 3344 9600 or email [email protected]
