The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning dutyholders to make sure they take proper precautions when working in buildings where asbestos may be present. This follows an investigation at Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Wear Valley District Council was fined a total of £25,722 at Darlington Magistrates Court this month after admitting six offences under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations SI 2002/2675, now revoked and replaced by the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations SI 2006/2739 (which has since been replaced by the Control of Asbestos Regulations SI 2012/632)
The investigation followed a complaint in January 2006 by a maintenance worker who discovered that the plant room of the council-run leisure centre contained asbestos. An HSE investigation found that a survey had been carried out in 2001 which identified asbestos containing materials. However the information was not acted upon and no-one who worked in the plant room was made aware. As a result, work that was likely to disturb the asbestos was carried out without the necessary health and safety precautions being taken.
Statistics recently released by the HSE has shown that criminal prosecutions brought under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations have more than tripled, reaching 37 during 2005/06. With up to 4,000 deaths every year, asbestos related diseases are the largest occupational killers in the UK. In addition, there is still a legacy of asbestos in buildings that needs to be addressed. It is estimated that half a million non-domestic premises contain asbestos of some description, meaning workers are putting themselves at risk every day.
