§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the permitted limit in terms of fibres per cubic centimetre in respect of asbestos in the working atmosphere, in the United Kingdom and in each of the other European Economic Community countries, respectively.
§ Mr. Harold Walker,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th March 1975; Vol. 889, c 258–6], gave the following information:
The hygiene standard for airborne asbestos dust, except crocidolite asbestos, in the United Kingdom is:
- (a) a concentration of 2 fibres per millilitre of air averaged over a 4-hour working period, and
61 - (b) a concentration of 12 fibres per millilitre of air averaged over any 10-minute period.
For crocidolite asbestos: a concentration of 0.2 fibres per millilitre of air over any 10-minute period.I understand that Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and The Netherlands have adopted the United Kingdom standard for asbestos. Standards where they exist in other EEC countries are not strictly comparable with the United Kingdom standard, but no country is known to have a more stringent standard than that in use in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what research is being carried out to find safe alternative materials to asbestos.
§ Mr. Harold Walker,pursuant to his reply Official Report, 27th March 1975; Vol. 889, c 286], gave the fallowing information:
The major manufacturing companies, encouraged by the Health and Safety Executive, are undertaking research to produce less hazardous substitutes for asbestos. A number of non-asbestos heat insulating materials are already established for lagging boilers and steam pipes. Research work has led to the development of insulating boards made of asbestos substitutes particularly for use in the shipbuilding industry. Similar alternative materials are being produced for application to steelwork in the construction industry.
§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the levels of fines available for contravention of the Asbestos Regulations 1969 are high enough.
§ Mr. Harold Walker,pursuant to his reply Official Report, 27th March 1975; Vol. 889, c. 286], gave the following information:
Yes. Offences committed after 1st January 1975 attract the enhanced penalties provided by Section 33 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission advises me that there is no evidence that these penalties are inadequate.
§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is still 62W satisfied that the Asbestos Regulations 1969 are adequate to safeguard the health of workers exposed to asbestos dust; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Harold Walker,pursuant to his reply Official Report, 27th March 1975; Vol. 889, c. 286], gave the following information:
The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the regulations and the hygiene standards on which the effectiveness of the regulations depend are under constant review by the Health and Safety Executive and there are no plans to alter them in the immediate future. The Employment Medical Advisory Service in conjunction with the Factory Inspectorate is undertaking a long-term medical/environmental survey to monitor the health of asbestos workers. This survey should provide a sound basis for the future evaluation of the adequacy of environmental control measures.