§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the purpose of the medical examination required by Regulation 16(2) of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 as amended by the Control of Asbestos at Work (Amendment) Regulations 1998. [77876]
§ Mr. MealeDoctors carry out medical examinations under Regulation 16(2) to advise workers on their general fitness for work with asbestos (including their fitness to work wearing respiratory protective equipment), to provide them with information about their current state of respiratory health, to alert workers to early signs of disease, and to warn them about the increased risk of lung cancer for those who smoke and work with asbestos.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what controls will be applied to contractors licensed only to remove asbestos insulation board to prevent them from undertaking any other type of asbestos stripping work. [77877]
§ Mr. MealeContractors are required to give 14 days advance notice of work with asbestos as a condition of their licence. In 1999–2000, the Health and Safety Executive's Field Operations Directorate plan to visit at least 800 notified jobs and also to visit 40 local authorities to deal with risks from asbestos to building and maintenance workers in their properties.
242W
Organisation Remediation type Brief description 1 Action Environment Decontamination Reclamation of contaminated land at Plean Country Park (public amenity) 2 Action for Chitterne's Environment Rubbish removal Clearing roadside banks (in cutting) of fly-tipped litter and debris at Winterbourne (public amenity) 3 Argyll and Bute Trust Rubbish removal Beach cleaning by volunteer bodies, including general flotsam and tanker crude oil residues (public amenity) 4 Beach Watch Bute Rubbish removal Beach cleaning, including removal of crude oil residues (public amenity) In addition, in 1999–2000 the Directorate has planned for 80,000 preventive inspections in addition to complaint and accident investigations. Inspectors are aware of the importance of asbestos and will be alert to illegal work during such visits.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Health and Safety Executive plans to license contractors who remove only asbestos insulation board under the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1993, as amended by the Asbestos (Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1998. [77874]
§ Mr. MealeYes. From 1 August 1999, the regulations will apply to licensed contractors who only work with asbestos insulation board in the same way as they do to those working with asbestos coating and insulation.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the medical examination certificates issued to workers exposed to asbestos under the amended Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 are intended to fulfil the requirements of asbestos laws in all European Union member states. [77875]
§ Mr. MealeNo. The intention behind the amendment to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations to issue a medical certificate to both the employer and employee is to prevent the forgery of medical certificates. The UK's requirements for medical surveillance are stricter than the minimum standards laid down by the EU Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to asbestos at work.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to ban the import, marketing and use of Chrysotile asbestos. [77878]
§ Mr. MealeThe Government are firmly committed to further restrictions on the importation, supply and use of white asbestos. The Health and Safety Commission has already consulted on proposals to amend the (Asbestos Prohibitions) Regulations and I look forward to receiving its recommendations, taking account of European Developments, in June.