News

Asbestos Claims: Hundreds of asbestos inspections to be carried out in Council buildings

10:40, 6/12/2024

The Health and Safety Executive has launched a campaign to inspect hundreds of Council buildings to ensure that the risk of asbestos is being managed properly.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive will visit Council head offices across the country to ensure asbestos risks are being managed effectively to keep people safe. Exposure to asbestos can cause long-term and fatal illnesses such as asbestosis and mesothelioma often do not show symptoms for decades later.

To minimise the risk of this, it is essential that checks are carried out to protect the public, and anyone working in these council owned properties.
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness due to exposure at work or in a public place, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

How will the inspections take place?

HSE inspectors will visit several sites within each local authority’s property portfolio.

HSE has not specified what type of buildings they may inspect – but it follows on from a previous campaign that targeted hospitals and schools.
Councils typically own public buildings such as community centres, sports centres, libraries, museums and exhibition halls – and these may be among the inspected properties.

Helen Jones, HSE’s Head of Health and Public Services Sector, said: “Local authorities have a hugely important role to play in keeping people safe.
“They can do this through the maintenance of their property portfolios and in their role as a regulator.

“To keep people safe from its harms, a culture of safely managing asbestos is needed in our building industry and among those responsible for buildings.
“Asbestos exposure in Great Britain is still the single greatest cause of work-related deaths due to exposures decades ago.
“Together, we must protect people in the workplace and reduce future work-related ill health.”

“Those responsible for the maintenance of buildings must do everything to comply with the law and prevent exposure to this dangerous substance, which was widely used in post-war construction before it was completely banned in 1999.”

Asbestos risks to be aware of

If you disturb or touch asbestos, you and those around you could be at risk of developing a serious illness. Disturbed asbestos can cause those close by to breathe in the fibres and particles, the risk of developing diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer and pleural thickening.

Asbestos-related illnesses usually develop over a period of time due to prolonged exposure, but asbestos is hard to identify (with fibres about 10 times smaller than the width of a human hair), it is highly likely that these particles will remain in your home if you do attempt to remove it yourself.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos comes from mines across the world including Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil and China. The naturally occurring mineral is made up of heat-resistant fibres and there are three main types commonly found in the UK – brown, white and blue.

Between the 1930s and the 1980s, it was mixed into cement, roofing felt, texture walls, ceiling coverings and floor tiles, and used on roofs, gutters and window seals and to lag or insulate boilers and pipes.

Symptoms of asbestos exposure

According to the NHS, symptoms of asbestos exposure include the following:

• Shortness of breath
• Persistent cough
• Wheezing
• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Pain in your chest or shoulder
• In more advanced cases, clubbed (swollen) fingertips
However, it can take 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos before symptoms appear, and sometimes there are no symptoms.

Laws around Asbestos

As well as common law duty to ensure a safe place of work and a safe system of work, your employer will have a number of duties set down by statute.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

• Employers have a duty so far as is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety and welfare of their employees.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Duty to undertake a reasonable risk assessment (Reg. 3)
• Requirement to undertake a health surveillance (Reg. 6)

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
• Ensure that suitable personal equipment is provided (Reg. 4)
• Ensure an assessment of any personal protective equipment is undertaken to determine whether it is suitable.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002

• Required to assess health risk where work is liable to expose employees to substances hazardous to health (Reg. 6)
• Ensure exposure to substances hazardous to health is either prevented, or where not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled (Reg. 7)
• Ensure any employee exposed to substances hazardous to health are monitored and under suitable health surveillance (Reg. 11)

What can we do to help?

We understand that for anyone diagnosed with any asbestos related lung condition it is a worrying time for you and your family.

We would always encourage anyone who is diagnosed with an asbestos-related lung condition that you contact a solicitor to see if assistance can be provided in these circumstances.

As industrial disease solicitors, our main aim is to ensure that you and your family receive compensation as a result of the exposure and the resulting illness you now suffer from.
Whilst our main aim is to recover compensation, we are always there to support and assist you and your family through this difficult time.

Why should I use Oakwood Solicitors Ltd?

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd agrees to work on your industrial disease claim on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be expected to pay us a penny. If you are successful in your claim, we take a percentage of the compensation meaning that the only time we will receive money is if we have brought your claim to a fruitful conclusion.

You will have a dedicated advisor who will see your claim through from start to finish, assisting you in the event of any queries or issues you may have. If it is preferable to you, we are able to assign a female advisor to carry out your claim. Your case handler will also continue to provide regular updates until the conclusion of your claim, ensuring the process is as stress-free and effortless as possible.

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