Asbestos in Welsh Schools

Posted on July 20, 2010 with No Comments

In a television report on ITV Wales,  Information identified in a Western Mail freedom of information request has uncovered that over 90% of Welsh Schools contain dangerous asbestos containing materials.

Breakdown of schools containing asbestos by Unitary Authority in Wales; 2009 figs:

Assembly rooms finally get an overhaul

Posted on July 19, 2010 with No Comments

THE multi-million pound refurbishment of the Assembly Rooms looks set to finally get under way – after city leaders agreed to scale back the project.

Plans for a massive revamp of the council-owned venue – one of the mainstays of the Fringe – have suffered a series of funding problems since they were unveiled in 2006.

HSG264 The Asbestos Surveyors Guide

Posted on July 15, 2010 with 2 Comments

The SHP reported that In January this year, the HSE published new guidance on asbestos surveying, which explicitly advocates the need to be able to demonstrate and ensure competency. Martin Gibson, Martin Stear and Jon Murthy explain how both surveyors and duty-holders can do so.

The HSE estimates that asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are still present in some 500,000 commercial properties in the UK. No one really knows how much asbestos still remains in UK buildings but those built before 1999, when asbestos was finally banned, are likely to still contain some, with those pre-dating 1985, when blue and brown asbestos were banned, causing the most concern.

Duty to Manage Asbestos – Retailers Factsheet

Posted on July 14, 2010 with 2 Comments

What you need to know

The dangers presented to tradesmen working with asbestos are well known, and the Health and Safety Executive’s Hidden Killer campaign has done much to highlight the issue and raise awareness even further amongst those who are now most at risk – building and maintenance trades.

However, asbestos is not just an issue for tradesmen to consider, and it’s vital that those with responsibility for premises know what their duties are in relation to asbestos.

Asbestos bears some blame in Derby’s lack of better health

Posted on July 13, 2010 with 1 Comment

ASBESTOS-RELATED illness and deprivation in Derby are being blamed for little improvement in the number of city people dying of cancer. Latest figures show the city has seen barely any change in the death rate from cancer in 10 years, despite a national reduction.