UK MP Campaigns For Safer Asbestos Handling -- MesoLink.org -- 01-10-06

A Member of Parliament from the House of Commons in the United Kingdom is campaigning for the safer handling of asbestos, a potentially deadly substance that was once widely used in the UK and throughout the world in a number of areas.

It was only when the deadly side effects of asbestos became known several decades ago that this material was phased out, but there are still many products and items that contain asbestos from the days when it was hugely popular.

The MP campaigning for raised awareness when it comes to handling asbestos is the Rt. Hon. John McFall. The Member of Parliament for West Dunbartonshire is behind the House of Commons in a bid to improve the rules and regulations when it comes to the disposal of asbestos.

The MP stated: “There is deep concern amongst MPs that the new Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006 will drop textured coatings from the list of materials that only licensed contractors are approved to remove. And I’m concerned too that the Health and Safety Executive has arrived at this proposal without a proper evaluation of the risk associated with the material. A number of MPs believe that allowing unlicensed contractors to remove these materials will put workers, home owners and families at risk. I would like to see this proposal and research methodology for it reviewed.”