Plea for action on asbestos

Ahead of global asbestos awareness week last month, the IOSH health and safety professionals body called on the government to take more action to prevent thousands of people dying from asbestos exposure every year. Despite a ban on the deadly material coming into force 25 years ago, IOSH says an estimated 300,000 non-domestic buildings built before 1999 still contain it. Many require refurbishment, and with the drive for net zero requiring retrofitting, it says both building workers and users will be put at risk if this is not managed properly.

It says it is unacceptable that people are still being exposed to asbestos and at risk of terminal cancers such as mesothelioma in years to come. It reports a lack of consistency in managing asbestos among duty holders and a lack of awareness and knowledge among those who are coming into contact with it.

IOSH head of policy and public affairs Ruth Wilkinson said there had been no progress on removing asbestos from public and commercial buildings in the two years since the government rejected a recommendation from the parliamentary work and pensions committee. This called for a 40-year deadline for this work to be carried out.