Credit: Tneil Abt, Unsplash
Stephen - as Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee - has called on the government to commit to a strategy to remove all asbestos from public and commercial buildings by 2062.
Despite being banned more than 20 years ago, the WPC estimates that asbestos still exists in around 300,000 non-domestic buildings, including schools. The Health and Safety Executive, however, is yet to provide a clear time frame and strategy for its total removal, nor does it provide evidence-based “safe and effective” removal techniques, according to the report.
Asbestos is still the greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, linked to more than 5,000 deaths in 2019 alone, including cancers and long-term injury from past exposure.
In its latest report, Stephen’s committee cited a growing public health risk as buildings are adapted in line with the move to net zero and other energy efficiency targets, disturbing the toxic materials in the process.
Speaking about the report, Stephen said: “Asbestos is one of the great workplace tragedies of modern times and the risk remains real.
“Falling back on regulations which devolve responsibility to individual building owners and maintenance managers will not be sufficient to protect people’s health.
“Setting a clear deadline of 40 years will help to focus minds. The clock is ticking and this is no time for laissez-faire.”