When will they learn?

What will it take for employment agencies to learn that advertising for asbestos removal workers without having checked the health & safety implications is not acceptable?

Safety Management magazine reports the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate recently censured 11 employment agencies after the EAS caught them advertising for asbestos removal workers without having checked the health and safety implications and the agencies have now been warned they face criminal proceedings or a possible 10–year trading ban if they fail to address their non-compliance.

The agencies were found to have not complied with the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 with 57 infringements in total, including failing to explore the safety implications of the work, failure to inform applicants of the risks and failure to check qualifications, training and experience of applicants.

HSE’s asbestos programme director Steve Coldrick said;

“Whilst trades people need to take responsibility for their own health & safety, it is imperative that this is matched with a commitment by their employer to do the same”

Further information of the dangers of asbestos can be found via the HSE “Hidden Killer” campaign at www.hse.gov.uk/Asbestos/campaign/video.htm