The Liverpool Daily Post reported on November 13th 2007 that The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued the Liverpool City Council an improvement notice because the council was providing "inadequate" information and training regarding the management of asbestos to staff.
The council has been forced to enlist the help of experts Zurich Municipal to create a course for 800 staff on how to manage asbestos at a cost of £100,000.
It is the second enforce-ment notice from the HSE that the council is dealing with. Last month the council had been told to improve its occupational health service or face legal action.
The HSE issued the asbestos warning in May and since then the council identified 778 employees who needed the asbestos training. The staff manage around 500 buildings across the city including leisure centres, libraries and schools.
They have been sent on a one-day training course on asbestos management, which also covered Legionella, fire risk assessment and the control of contractors.
The council has been forced to apply for an extension notice, until December 14, because there are still about 70 people waiting to take the course.
The council also has until December 14 to conduct an assessment relating to the other enforcement notice.
HSE inspectors found the authority was not carrying out regular checks or screening to protect the health of its staff.
The council is required to produce an action plan detailing how it will deal with deficiencies to the HSE by January 25. It will have to explain how it will deal with people at risk of hazards.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Scientists monitor fire fallout for asbestos
13th November 2007 news agencies reported that the fire which broke out yesterday at one of the sites earmarked for development prior to the Olympic Games in 2012, may have released asbestos into the atmoshpere.
Health officials were last night monitoring the fallout from the giant plume of smoke after police confirmed that materials containing asbestos were found at the scene.
Residents living near to the site were told to keep their windows closed and people with respiratory conditions were advised to stay indoors.
Asbestos causes a number of diseases and, in particular, is linked to the development of mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The Health Protection Agency said it had dispatched chemical experts to the scene and weathermen were assessing if the smoke would fall to ground level in other parts of London.
A spokesman for the London Air Quality Network said: "It depends a lot on weather conditions whether the smoke comes down to ground level.
"We are going to keep a close eye on it for the near future.
"In some case like Buncefield we didn't see a lot of pollution because it stayed up high in the atmosphere. With this one we're not sure, it's quite hard to predict."
Health officials were last night monitoring the fallout from the giant plume of smoke after police confirmed that materials containing asbestos were found at the scene.
Residents living near to the site were told to keep their windows closed and people with respiratory conditions were advised to stay indoors.
Asbestos causes a number of diseases and, in particular, is linked to the development of mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The Health Protection Agency said it had dispatched chemical experts to the scene and weathermen were assessing if the smoke would fall to ground level in other parts of London.
A spokesman for the London Air Quality Network said: "It depends a lot on weather conditions whether the smoke comes down to ground level.
"We are going to keep a close eye on it for the near future.
"In some case like Buncefield we didn't see a lot of pollution because it stayed up high in the atmosphere. With this one we're not sure, it's quite hard to predict."
Kent firm fined for safety breaches
TUC Risks reported on 10th November 2007 that Kent-based firm Galamast was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £16,140 in costs at Bedford Magistrates Court last week for exposing asbestos during work at a department store in March 2006.
Galamast Ltd, based in Bromley, Kent, was convicted of two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. The company was carrying out a 'strip-out' of the old Littlewood's store in Bedford's Harpur Centre in March 2006 when verbal instructions were misunderstood, leading to its employees, sub-contractors and health and safety inspectors being exposed to asbestos.
The work was being carried out on behalf of Primark, which took over several Littlewood's stores during 2005/6. The prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive.
Galamast Ltd, based in Bromley, Kent, was convicted of two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. The company was carrying out a 'strip-out' of the old Littlewood's store in Bedford's Harpur Centre in March 2006 when verbal instructions were misunderstood, leading to its employees, sub-contractors and health and safety inspectors being exposed to asbestos.
The work was being carried out on behalf of Primark, which took over several Littlewood's stores during 2005/6. The prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive.
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