The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), together with the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM), has called upon future Prime Ministerial candidates to commit to a proper national plan on asbestos. This follows HSE statistics showing an increase in asbestos deaths to over 5,000 each year.

BOHS is critical of what it calls the government’s “wishy-washy” response to Parliamentary Inquiry recommendations, published earlier this year. Parliament called on Whitehall to join up its thinking and collect better data to protect nurses, teachers and those in social housing who are at increasing risk of exposure to asbestos as building stock degrades.

Jonathan Grant, Registrar of the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management said: “The government’s response dodges the main issues coming out of the Inquiry. It needs to have a proper joined up strategy using research, tax incentives, communication, building control, the conveyancing system, technology, and the opportunities arising from the greening of buildings. Instead, the government plan is to use a handful of inspectors, a bit of social media and wishful thinking to move things on.

“We are pleased that there are indications that the government thinks it might be a good idea for people surveying for a cancer-causing toxin like asbestos, should now have some level of competence and accreditation. It’s also progress that they appreciate the need to ensure that the contractors who check to see that asbestos is being removed from properties properly, should not be on the same contractor’s payroll.”

Professor Kevin Bampton, CEO of BOHS said: “In its Response, the government says it is listening to professional bodies like us, but they clearly have not read the evidence given to Parliament, the Select Committee Report or its own statistics on asbestos deaths. The new PM needs to show leadership on asbestos, which is a national problem from the humblest of Council houses through to the Palace of Westminster itself.”