NEWS RELEASES
Asbestos precautions under scrutiny
12 January 2009
THERE is soon to be detailed check of local businesses to look at what precautions they have in place to deal with potentially harmful asbestos.
At the end of January, Horsham District Council will be working together with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other councils throughout Sussex to carry out targeted visits to local businesses - large and small, - to check that they are not exposing employees, contractors or visitors to potentially harmful asbestos fibres.
Preventing asbestos related disease is still a vital issue as, at around 4000 deaths a year (over 16 times the number of deaths from accidents at work), asbestos related diseases remain the largest occupational killers in the UK and numbers are continuing to rise.
Around 25% of those dying from asbestos related disease have worked in the building maintenance and repair trades at some time during their working lives.
During the last week in January, Environmental Health and HSE staff will be visiting around 1000 businesses across the county to confirm that there are appropriate measures in place to comply with their responsibilities under the asbestos regulations.
The regulations require all those with responsibilities for control or repair and maintenance of buildings to look for and identify any asbestos present.
They also have to keep a record of its location and condition, to assess the risks from its presence, manage and control those risks by either removal or sealing and monitoring its condition, and to inform anyone who might accidentally disturb it.
Speaking of the forthcoming initiative, Cllr Brian Donnelly, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Health at Horsham District Council, said:
“This is an important initiative and a good example of councils and the Health and Safety Executive working together to ensure that the potentially serious risks of exposure to asbestos are being properly controlled.”
Further information is available from Horsham District Council on 01403 215419, email: david.kemp@horsham.gov.uk
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Note to editors
Further comprehensive info on asbestos available at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk