Sixth Report - The Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management

HSE's Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR) Post Implementation Review (PIR) will be published later this year and HSE is developing its plan of work to take forward areas from the PIR and will consider using recommendations from the inquiry to inform this work.

HSE has a Science and Evidence Strategy and Delivery Plan, and will continue to publish findings, but will assess priorities for further research as part of its forward programme, engaging with duty holders for public buildings. They are also trialling new methods for capturing information about duty holder compliance with health and safety regulations.

The government states why collecting additional occupational information through death registration or coronial processes would be challenging and thus not recommended.

The Government believes that GB currently has a mature and comprehensive plan to managing legacy asbestos risks that aligns with the best evidence currently available through the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the 'duty to manage'.

The government believes that GB currently has a mature and comprehensive plan to manage legacy asbestos risks, reflected in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the duty to manage, which ensures management of risks of exposure and will eventually lead to the elimination of asbestos from the built environment.

HSE will continue to retain its robust understanding of exposure trends and levels of duty holder compliance, assessing priorities for further research as part of its forward programme, prioritising against HSE’s wider research plan on work-related health and safety areas, engaging with duty holders for public buildings and those in charge of estates strategies.

HSE states they recognize the importance of duty holders actively managing information and ensuring it is regularly communicated, and they will be carrying out targeted inspection activity and develop communications activity in this area to support wider inspection work, as well as continuing working with duty holders and those in charge of estates strategies for non-domestic buildings.

The government acknowledges the committee's view on a central register of information on asbestos, but suggests that a new central register would duplicate existing information with no clear indicator that asbestos exposure risks would be improved, and that HSE will develop targeted communications activity to increase awareness and understanding of how to manage the risks and the importance of sharing information.

HSE's business plan includes details of how HSE's activities are funded and sets out how HSE will deliver a range of different regulatory interventions and activities based on intelligence, targeting the most serious risks, focusing on industries with the greatest hazards and sectors with the worst risk management record.

HSE strives to ensure legal compliance and safety is enabled through clear and accessible guidance, they will look at communications activity around asbestos to ensure that opportunities to raise awareness with trades people most at risk of exposure, are maximised, prior to beginning any refurbishment or retrofitting work.

HSE engages with various stakeholders to ensure standards and competence are maintained for asbestos surveyors and will now engage with stakeholders to consider this further and how they can collectively ensure competence throughout the system.

HSE recognizes the evidence presented to the inquiry and will engage with stakeholders to consider how the guidance in HSG248 Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide can be reinforced further regarding analyst independence.

HSE will review any robust, peer-reviewed evidence on exposure levels that show tangible health benefits for GB workers and will continue to monitor international developments in this area and the evidence base.