April 19th, 2006

The UK’s Health and Safety Executive has issued a report that claims working with asbestos containing textured coating poses a very low risk to health. This data has been taken into account in the government’s new proposed regulations with regards to asbestos management.

A spokesperson for the Heath and Safety Executive stated: “The research shows that the risk from asbestos-containing textured coatings is comparable to the risks from work with asbestos cement, which does not require a licence. We’re not saying this work is no-risk - it still needs to be carried out by trained workers using appropriate controls. Licensing is an additional check on high-risk work and should reflect changing knowledge about risks to remain credible.”

However, unions are not impressed with the claims. One union spokesperson stated: "HSE need to recognize the reality that for very many building and maintenance workers, their employers will not put in place the appropriate controls and that deregulating an activity that has previously been licensed will send out the wrong message about the dangers of asbestos to workers and the occupants of buildings who will be at risk from these deadly fibers."