Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not hold that information centrally, however we have instructed Health Facilities Scotland to obtain that information by the end of April and we will report once the information has been checked and validated.

The Scottish Government recognise the hazard of asbestos and the risks to health that it poses. However, asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed and the advice from the Health and Safety Executive is that asbestos should remain in-situ providing it is in ‘Good’ Condition, and even where damage is minor it should still be encapsulated rather than removed.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg223.pdf

Therefore, if it is safely managed and contained, it doesn't present a health hazard and removing asbestos can be more dangerous than leaving it in place and managing it.

In 2018 a group was formed to review and update 'Managing Asbestos Unified procedures for use within NHSScotland'. The NHS Board Policy on the Management of Asbestos is designed to conform to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR2012). The Policy and Procedures apply to all premises and all individuals employed and/or engaged by the organisation without exception.

NHS Boards acknowledge the health hazards arising from exposure to asbestos and take all measures to prevent the exposure of staff, patients, contractors, or any other persons to airborne asbestos fibres within their premises. Where prevention of exposure to asbestos is not reasonably practicable, measure are taken to ensure any such exposure is reduced to the lowest level reasonably practicable by measures other than the use of respiratory protective equipment.

The Boards achieve that by:

- systematically and proactively identify throughout its estate, any materials containing asbestos or presumed to contain asbestos;

- presume that materials contain asbestos unless there is strong analytical evidence that they don’t;

- ensure that all premises are assessed and surveyed where applicable in order to identify any asbestos containing materials that may be present;

- maintain an up-to-date electronic record (Asbestos Register) of the location and condition of asbestos containing materials and of materials presumed to contain asbestos. The Register need to be reviewed at periods not exceeding 12 months;

- assess the risk of exposure from such materials;

- prepare and implement a plan to manage the risk to ensure that any material known or presumed to contain asbestos is kept in a good state of repair, and is inspected/ reassessed, at regular specified intervals;

- ensure information on the location and condition of the material is given to anyone potentially at risk;

- undertake risk assessments prior to commencing work which could expose or is liable to expose employees or others to the risks from asbestos materials, and;

- produce a plan of work detailing how such work is to be carried out;

- prevent exposure to asbestos or reduce it to as low a level as is reasonably practicable;

- provide adequate information, instruction and training to those employees who are likely to come into contact with asbestos.

Asbestos should remain in-situ providing it is in ‘Good’ Condition, and even where damage is minor it should still be encapsulated rather than removed.