Page 4 - A National Asbestos Strategy

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Over twenty-five years after the ban on the importation and use of all asbestos materials,
the UK still has one of the highest levels of mesothelioma deaths in the world. Asbestos
exposure continues to be the leading cause of work-related fatalities in the UK. There are
signs that more people are now dying at younger ages, especially in jobs like teaching and
nursing, due to asbestos exposure in workplaces like schools and hospitals.
In 2022, a Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry, chaired by Sir Stephen Timms (now
the minister responsible for the Health and Safety Executive), examined HSE’s management of
asbestos in buildings. The inquiry identified little evidence about the current condition and extent
of asbestos in UK buildings and raised several concerns about existing asbestos regulations. This
report aims to provoke discussion about two of the committees’ central recommendations.
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The development of a national database for asbestos-containing materials.
A strategy for the future removal of asbestos.
The Asbestos Information CIC (Community Interest Company) advocates a programme of
preventative measures, including developing the following.
1. 2. 3. A data-led approach, based on existing asbestos survey information, can more accurately
identify the location of premises containing asbestos and the type and condition of asbestos
in buildings. This approach would enable the establishment of a national database.
An Asbestos Information Certificate (AIC), similar to Energy Performance Certificates. This
certificate would be displayed with a QR code in premises containing asbestos, providing an
accessible overview of the asbestos condition, the effectiveness of its management, and a
classification of the level of risk. The aim is to offer a clear and concise analysis for each site.
A UK database that can identify the priorities for a targeted, phased removal plan based
on the types and conditions of asbestos and the buildings housing the most vulnerable
In response to the Select Committee, the then government stated that developing a national
database would be too complex and challenging. This report highlights what is possible with limited
resources, supported by the Asbestos Information CIC’s website, which illustrates how asbestos
data from survey reports can be analysed and displayed geographically.
www.asbestosinformation.org.uk
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