Prior to any major refurbishment or demolition project there is a legal requirement to assess the risk of asbestos through a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey.
Unfortunately 23% of UK construction workers say they have been exposed to asbestos, according to a survey from IOSH. What’s more, the potential for exposure is relatively great, as it can still be found in many buildings built before 2000. Even though it’s so prevalent, 18% of construction workers say that if they found it, they wouldn’t know what to do. Despite how common exposure can be, teams often don’t take proper precautions. In fact 32% don’t check the asbestos register before beginning a job and 15% don’t even know what the register is.
In 2016-17 the HSE prosecuted over 200 cases from the construction sector – much higher than any other sector in the UK. They had a 93% success rate with the prosecutions, which led to over £15 million in penalties. This worked out at an average fine of £77,000, which was an increase of over 100% compared to 2015-16.
To help avoid these fines construction companies should ensure that the risk of asbestos has been assessed and a survey undertaken and its workers have received appropriate asbestos awareness training.
Hatch Consultancy provide cost effective asbestos testing and surveys throughout Devon and Cornwall.
