§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what safeguards there are for employees in the insulation and lagging industry to prevent the contraction of asbestosis.
§ Mr. MayhewEmployees in the insulation and lagging industries are safeguarded by the general legislative controls on the use of asbestos, which I have set out below.
Since 1969, all work in the insulation, dismantling and demolition industries which generates asbestos dust has been subject to the Asbestos Regulations 1969 if carried out on premises subject to the Factories Act 1961. The Asbestos Regulations include requirements for exhaust ventilation, protective equipment, the cleaning of premises, plant and equipment and the storage and disposal of waste material so as to minimise the risk to the health of those working with asbestos. In workplaces where the Factories Act does not apply, the general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 are used to enforce standards similar to those required by the Asbestos Regulations.
Following a recommendation made in the first report of the advisory committee on asbestos entitled "Work on Thermal and Acoustic Insulation and Sprayed Coatings" and its confirmation in subsequent consultations, the Health and Safety Commission is preparing an approved 221W code of practice and guidance note giving practical advice on the precautions to be observed in work involving sprayed coatings and insulation materials containing asbestos, to help people comply with the relevant legislation.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the X-ray procedures used to determine the incidence of asbestosis in workers employed in the insultation and lagging industry; and what obligation there is on employers to make body scans available.
§ Mr. MayhewX-ray procedures are internationally agreed and recommended by the International Labour Organisation through its document "ILO U/C International Classification of Radiographs to Pneumoconioses 1971". The Health and Safety Executive continues to review possible better procedures, and if these were proved to be feasible and economically viable they would be implemented. There are no obligations on employers to make body scans available.
§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the mortality rate amongst laggers and employees in the insulation industry from asbestosis.
§ Mr. MayhewI regret that no figures are available for the mortality rate amongst laggers and employees in the insulation industry from asbestosis. This is mainly because of the difficulty of determining the number of workers who have been employed in such work.