No More Asbestos?

Is it possible to remove all Asbestos from all the buildings in the UK by 2035, in 20 years’ time?

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health seem to think so. They are calling for a staged process of removal based around a timetable which identifies, prioritises and ultimately removes the substance from all structures in the UK by this date.

Key points:

- All commercial, public, and rented domestic premises should have to conduct, and register with the HSE, a survey done by a registered consultant which indicates whether asbestos containing material is present, and, if so, where it is and in what condition, to be completed no later than 2022.

- Where asbestos is identified in any premises, all refurbishment, repair or remedial work done in the vicinity of the asbestos containing material should include the removal of the asbestos. Where no such work takes place, or is planned within the foreseeable future, the duty holder must develop and implement a plan for the removal of all asbestos which ensures that removal is completed as soon as is reasonably practical but certainly no later than 2035. In the case of public buildings and educational establishments, such as schools, this should be done by 2028.

- The HSE, local authorities and other enforcing agencies must develop a programme of workplace inspections to verify that all asbestos containing material identified is properly marked and managed, and that asbestos eradication plans are in place and include, as part of the plan, an acceptable timeframe for the eradication.

- Before any house sale is completed, a survey should be done which includes a survey of the presence of asbestos. Any asbestos containing material should be labeled. Information on the presence of asbestos should be given to any contractor working on the house.

An ambitious timetable maybe, but surely one worth sticking to.