Asbestos Inspections for Businesses in Huntingdon

Targeted asbestos inspections of businesses across Huntingdonshire will be carried out by officers from Huntingdonshire District Council's Environmental and Community Health team during February 2012.

The visits are to make sure that businesses are not exposing employees to potentially harmful asbestos fibres, and are complying with their duty to manage any asbestos present in their premises.

At around 4000 deaths per year asbestos related diseases are still the largest occupational killers in the UK, and are continuing to rise. Around 25% of those dying from asbestos related disease have worked in the building, maintenance and repair trades at some time during their working lives.

Officers will be spending a number of days visiting businesses to assess whether they have taken appropriate measures to comply with their responsibilities under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. They will discuss these responsibilities and provide advice leaflets for future reference.

Councillor Tom Sanderson, executive councillor for Healthy and Active Communities said: "A pilot project carried out in 2009 revealed that around 40% of businesses may not be complying with their duties under this important legislation. These visits are to ensure that businesses understand their responsibilities to safeguard their employees from this potentially harmful substance and comply with their legal obligations."