HC Deb 02 March 2004 vol 418 cc854-5W
Mr. Dodds

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what regulations apply to building contractors when asbestos is discovered in(a) schools and (b) school premises during building work; and how they are enforced. [156554]

Mr. Pearson

The legislation that applies in such circumstances is as follows:

  1. 1. The Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978
  2. 2. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995
  3. 3. The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003; and
  4. 4. The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is the enforcing authority for the above legislation in relation to a wide range of work premises, including schools. HSENI adopts a risk-based approach to carrying out inspections of asbestos removal operations and insist on a very high standard of compliance with statutory provisions in relation to all such work.