Following the prosecution of St George's Healthcare Trust, the HSE published a press release on the 19th October 2007, warning employers to ensure they take proper precautions over the management of asbestos in their buildings.
Hazel McCallum, HSE Inspector, said: "It is disappointing when large organisations such as the Trust put people at risk by not taking a responsible approach. The risks associated with exposure to airborne asbestos fibres are well known and the measures required to control it are easily achievable". The magistrate commented "that this was a serious offence. There was a lack of communication and a lack of action by the defendant. However, credit was given for the early guilty plea and this was the reason for not committing the case to the Crown Court"
The press release contained the following 'Notes to Editors'
Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (now repealed and replaced by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006) states,"An employer shall not carry any work which exposes or is liable to expose any of his employees to asbestos" unless either -
before commencing that work, he has identified, by analysis or otherwise, the type of asbestos involved in the work; or
he has assumed that the asbestos is (not chrysotile alone) and for the purposes of these Regulations has treated it accordingly.
Asbestos is the single biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. It is a priority for HSE to reduce the number of deaths caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. Inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres can lead to serious and deadly diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lung) and asbestosis (an irreversible scarring of the lungs that causes a decrease in lung function).
Further information on managing asbestos can be found at hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm
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