Unions warn HSE on asbestos risks

Unions warn HSE on asbestos risks

Trade unions and safety campaigners have reiterated their warning to the Health and Safety Executive about proposed alterations to the regulations covering asbestos work. The warning came ahead of a Construction Safety Campaign organised march and rally in London on Workers' Memorial Day, 28 April, supported by construction sector unions and south-east region TUC, SERTUC. The campaigners said asbestos is a proven killer, deregulation will cost lives because it downgrades the perception of the hazard and self-regulation will cost lives because experience has shown that not all contractors can be trusted. Unions fear that a relaxation of the rules to exempt textured coatings like Artex from the stringent asbestos licensing requirements will expose construction workers working on small-scale projects. They say the cumulative effect of working on a large number of jobs with 'sporadic and low intensity' asbestos exposure would put these workers at risk. Mick Connolly, regional secretary of SERTUC, said 'it is highly dangerous to remove current regulations restricting those who can work with it. The Health and Safety Commission is keen on employers regulating themselves, in this context, further deregulation of asbestos laws will only expose more workers who are employed by businesses who are less than rigorous in their self-regulation.'

• TUC news release.