Retailers are being sent a quick reference factsheet to help them understand their legal responsibilities on asbestos to ensure their workers, customers or any contractors are protected from exposure.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has teamed up with the BHF-BSSA Group - an independent retail trade body representing more than 7500 small retailers, after it was found that compliance with 'duty to manage' regulations was particularly low in this sector.
Any person or organisation responsible for the maintenance or repair of non domestic premises will almost certainly be responsible for managing any asbestos present, under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
The Fact Sheet outlines:
- Who has the duty to manage;
- What the duty to manage means;
- Three essential steps to comply with the duty; and
- Advice on asbestos surveys.
Steve Coldrick, HSE's Asbestos Programme Director, said:
"Around 4000 people die each year from past exposure to asbestos. It may be present in any building built before the year 2000, and so it is essential that retailers are aware of the risk it still poses and their responsibilities in managing it.
"Working with the BHF-BSSA to put in simple terms what businesses should be doing will help remove any mystery or uncertainty around the regulations."
Michael Weedon, BHF-BSSA Group Communications Manager, said: "Contractors never know what they are walking into when they start work on a job but retailers walk into the same premises day after day after day, so they really need to know what is lurking in their environment.
"Our factsheet sets out to make the subject clear and easy to understand, both for those who own their own premises and those who rent them from others."
The Fact Sheet is available to BHF-BSSA members at http://www.bssa.co.uk.
Notes
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It works to prevent death, injury and ill-health to those at work and those affected by work activities. For more information about the work of HSE, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk
- BHF-BSSA Group is the umbrella group for seven trade associations representing independent retailers and dealers. Formed in 2009 from the merger of BHF Group, which was founded in 1899 and The British Shops & Stores Association (BSSA) which was formed in 1991, it has more than 7500 members across the UK. BHF-BSSA Group provides services to help support independents, as well as working on their behalf to represent their interests to local, national government and international government (EU). The Group includes: British Hardware Federation (BHF): British Shops & Stores Association (bssa), British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA): Cookshop & Housewares Association (CHA): Home Decoration Retailers Association (HDRA): Independent Builders Merchant Services (IBMS): Pet Product Retailers Assocation (PPRA).
- Any person or organisation responsible for protecting others who work in or use non-domestic premises has a duty to manage the risks to health that exposure to asbestos causes. In many cases, this is the person or organisation that has clear responsibility for the maintenance or repair of the premises.
- 'Non-domestic premises' includes all industrial, commercial or public buildings such as factories, warehouses, offices, shops, hospitals and schools; and also includes common areas of some domestic premises.
Source
HSE
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Applauds APHA's Call For Ban On Asbestos, Annual Warnings For Workers In High-Risk Occupations
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauds the American Public Health Association (APHA), the largest and most diverse public health organization in the world. APHA adopted a resolution calling on Congress to pass legislation banning the manufacture, sale, export, or import of asbestos containing products including products in which asbestos is a contaminant. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, annually claims the lives of more than 10,000 Americans.
"With this new policy, APHA is joining the World Federation of Public Health Associations and other international organizations calling for a global ban on asbestos mining, and manufacturing, and the dangerous practice of exporting asbestos containing products," said Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH, Chair of APHA's Occupational Health and Safety section. "As the World Health Organization noted in 2006, the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos related diseases is to stop using all types of asbestos."
"ADAO applauds APHA for passage of the landmark Elimination of Asbestos Resolution," said Linda Reinstein, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "APHA set a precedent with strong language aimed at preventing asbestos exposure to eliminate deadly diseases. Ambler, Pennsylvania - now a superfund site - is still plagued from asbestos piles left behind from the once profitable asbestos businesses. We can't let history repeat itself - it is time to ban asbestos and fund educational and research programs. APHA renews our optimism that a federal asbestos ban is eminent."
Source
American Public Health Association (APHA)
"With this new policy, APHA is joining the World Federation of Public Health Associations and other international organizations calling for a global ban on asbestos mining, and manufacturing, and the dangerous practice of exporting asbestos containing products," said Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH, Chair of APHA's Occupational Health and Safety section. "As the World Health Organization noted in 2006, the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos related diseases is to stop using all types of asbestos."
"ADAO applauds APHA for passage of the landmark Elimination of Asbestos Resolution," said Linda Reinstein, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "APHA set a precedent with strong language aimed at preventing asbestos exposure to eliminate deadly diseases. Ambler, Pennsylvania - now a superfund site - is still plagued from asbestos piles left behind from the once profitable asbestos businesses. We can't let history repeat itself - it is time to ban asbestos and fund educational and research programs. APHA renews our optimism that a federal asbestos ban is eminent."
Source
American Public Health Association (APHA)
Monday, 3 May 2010
'Hidden Killer' Asbestos Campaign Wins International Award
A campaign warning tradespeople about the dangers of asbestos has won a prestigious international award.
The Health and Safety Executive's 'hidden killer' campaign came top in the health category of the European Excellence Awards, held in Vienna, which honour outstanding achievements in public relations.
Around 20 tradesmen a week die in the UK from asbestos-related diseases and the aim of the campaign, launched in autumn 2008, was to help prevent another generation of plumbers, plasterers, electricians and joiners having their lives cut short.
HSE worked with communications agency MS&L to devise the PR campaign which used a football analogy to raise awareness of the numbers of people still dying from asbestos exposure, with ex-England player and former plasterer, Ian Wright, brought on board to spearhead it.
The launch was covered by broadcast, print and online media, including the flagship BBC Radio 4 Today programme and GMTV. By the end of the campaign, HSE had seen a 100 per cent increase in calls to Infoline line and a six-fold increase in page requests on the campaign microsite.
Steve Coldrick, HSE's asbestos programme director said:
"Asbestos remains Britain's biggest workplace killer, but with the perception that it is largely a risk of the past we needed a hard-hitting PR campaign that would capture the imagination of tradesmen, particularly young ones. Using Ian Wright, a former tradesman, ticked all the boxes for us and delivered great results.
"We're pleased that our approach has been recognised and commended by experts in the communications industry. The award is a testament to the good working relationship between HSE's communications and asbestos programme teams and MSL"
The European Excellence Award is one of a number of accolades for HSE's 'Hidden Killer' campaign. It was highly commended at the PR Week Awards in October and shortlisted for a PRCA Award in November The print advertisements won an ANNA 'ad of the week' award (Awards for National Newspaper Advertising) and were nominated for 'ad of the year' under the same scheme.
The second phase of the campaign has just come to an end with early indications of success. More than 4000 calls were made to Infoline during November and there were around 200 items of regional coverage.
Source
HSE
The Health and Safety Executive's 'hidden killer' campaign came top in the health category of the European Excellence Awards, held in Vienna, which honour outstanding achievements in public relations.
Around 20 tradesmen a week die in the UK from asbestos-related diseases and the aim of the campaign, launched in autumn 2008, was to help prevent another generation of plumbers, plasterers, electricians and joiners having their lives cut short.
HSE worked with communications agency MS&L to devise the PR campaign which used a football analogy to raise awareness of the numbers of people still dying from asbestos exposure, with ex-England player and former plasterer, Ian Wright, brought on board to spearhead it.
The launch was covered by broadcast, print and online media, including the flagship BBC Radio 4 Today programme and GMTV. By the end of the campaign, HSE had seen a 100 per cent increase in calls to Infoline line and a six-fold increase in page requests on the campaign microsite.
Steve Coldrick, HSE's asbestos programme director said:
"Asbestos remains Britain's biggest workplace killer, but with the perception that it is largely a risk of the past we needed a hard-hitting PR campaign that would capture the imagination of tradesmen, particularly young ones. Using Ian Wright, a former tradesman, ticked all the boxes for us and delivered great results.
"We're pleased that our approach has been recognised and commended by experts in the communications industry. The award is a testament to the good working relationship between HSE's communications and asbestos programme teams and MSL"
The European Excellence Award is one of a number of accolades for HSE's 'Hidden Killer' campaign. It was highly commended at the PR Week Awards in October and shortlisted for a PRCA Award in November The print advertisements won an ANNA 'ad of the week' award (Awards for National Newspaper Advertising) and were nominated for 'ad of the year' under the same scheme.
The second phase of the campaign has just come to an end with early indications of success. More than 4000 calls were made to Infoline during November and there were around 200 items of regional coverage.
Source
HSE
Bristol Landlord Fined For Asbestos Exposure
A Bristol-based company has been fined for putting its workers at risk of asbestos-related diseases while working on a property in the city.
Frank Bruce and Company Ltd, of St George, Bristol pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates in relation to refurbishment work at Lawrence Hill Industrial Park in the city during February and March 2009.
The court heard Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors visited industrial units where the defendant had organised refurbishment work involving the removal of a large quantity of asbestos insulation board without taking statutory safety precautions.
This led to exposure of the workers to the asbestos and also the contamination of the units being renovated.
The court heard the company plead guilty to breaches under Regulation 14 of the Construction (Design and Management) [CDM] Regulations 2007 by failing to appoint a CDM-coordinator or principal contractor for notifiable construction work and Regulation 4 (10) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations by failing to review or implement a plan to manage materials containing asbestos.
Frank Bruce and Co was today (WED) fined £18,000 for breaching the regulations and ordered to pay £6,679 costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Sue Adsett said: "The decision not to have large quantities of asbestos insulation board removed by licensed contractors before the general refurbishment work began, put the workers at risk and contaminated the site.
"The work was stopped and the defendant paid to make the site safe, but this doesn't change the fact that seven construction workers were exposed to asbestos, which we know can cause fatal diseases.
"Landlords and property developers need to be very wary of organising construction work themselves if they haven't got appropriate experience of managing health and safety in building projects."
Around 500,000 buildings built before 2000 could contain asbestos, according to HSE estimates. If managed properly and kept in good condition, asbestos need not pose safety concerns.
Landlords need to arrange for 'Type 3' surveys to be done before refurbishment or demolition and pass this information on to builders before asking them to start work. Some asbestos products - such as Asbestos Insulation Boards or Asbestos Insulation - can only be removed by specially licensed contractors.
Notes
1. Further guidance and advice on health and safety issues relating to asbestos can be found on the HSE website.
Source
HSE
Frank Bruce and Company Ltd, of St George, Bristol pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates in relation to refurbishment work at Lawrence Hill Industrial Park in the city during February and March 2009.
The court heard Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors visited industrial units where the defendant had organised refurbishment work involving the removal of a large quantity of asbestos insulation board without taking statutory safety precautions.
This led to exposure of the workers to the asbestos and also the contamination of the units being renovated.
The court heard the company plead guilty to breaches under Regulation 14 of the Construction (Design and Management) [CDM] Regulations 2007 by failing to appoint a CDM-coordinator or principal contractor for notifiable construction work and Regulation 4 (10) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations by failing to review or implement a plan to manage materials containing asbestos.
Frank Bruce and Co was today (WED) fined £18,000 for breaching the regulations and ordered to pay £6,679 costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Sue Adsett said: "The decision not to have large quantities of asbestos insulation board removed by licensed contractors before the general refurbishment work began, put the workers at risk and contaminated the site.
"The work was stopped and the defendant paid to make the site safe, but this doesn't change the fact that seven construction workers were exposed to asbestos, which we know can cause fatal diseases.
"Landlords and property developers need to be very wary of organising construction work themselves if they haven't got appropriate experience of managing health and safety in building projects."
Around 500,000 buildings built before 2000 could contain asbestos, according to HSE estimates. If managed properly and kept in good condition, asbestos need not pose safety concerns.
Landlords need to arrange for 'Type 3' surveys to be done before refurbishment or demolition and pass this information on to builders before asking them to start work. Some asbestos products - such as Asbestos Insulation Boards or Asbestos Insulation - can only be removed by specially licensed contractors.
Notes
1. Further guidance and advice on health and safety issues relating to asbestos can be found on the HSE website.
Source
HSE
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