In a judgement that could have far-reaching ramifications for UK companies with subsidiaries, the Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of an asbestosis sufferer, who sought damages against the parent company of his former employer.

The Government has agreed to exempt mesothelioma sufferers from controversial ‘no-win, no-fee’ compensation reforms currently going through Parliament until a report into their impact has been published.

A ruling by the Supreme Court could pave the way for thousands of asbestos victims to pursue insurance claims.

The Government is awaiting the findings of an independent advisory committee on the extent to which children are at risk from exposure to asbestos fibres before reviewing its policy on how schools should manage the substance.

An influential group of MPs has called on the Government to embark on the phased removal of asbestos from all schools to protect teachers, staff and children from the dust’s potentially harmful effects.

A roofer has been electronically tagged after admitting to fly-tipping asbestos on a road in Kent.

A laboratory-testing firm failed to remove asbestos from its Tyneside premises despite being warned by one of its sister companies, which specialises in asbestos surveys, that workers were being exposed to the hazardous substance.

A property manager has admitted failing to carry out an asbestos survey and exposing tenants and contractors to the dangerous substance at an industrial unit in Wales.

The Swiss owner of fibre-cement firm Eternit has vowed to appeal his 16-year prison sentence for asbestos crimes, which was handed down in an Italian court on Monday (13 February), US news organisation CNN reports.

A building contractor has been fined after its workers were exposed to asbestos fibres during refurbishment work at a premises in Swansea, South Wales.

Shops, offices and schools are just some of the workplaces in the services sector where asbestos could be present. But how do such organisations ensure they have the controls in place to safely manage this potentially deadly substance and, at the same time, remain open for business? Sadie Hopson explains.

In January this year, the HSE published new guidance on asbestos surveying,1 which explicitly advocates the need to be able to demonstrate and ensure competency. Martin Gibson, Martin Stear and Jon Murthy explain how both surveyors and duty-holders can do so.

The five years since the duty to manage asbestos was introduced have seen an explosion in the number of asbestos-surveying service-providers – many of whom are nowhere near competent. Martin Stear, who will be presenting on this topic at the SHP Arena at Safety & Health Expo, discusses the problem.

Pleural plaques are caused by inhaling asbestos fibres but, unlike more malign conditions caused by exposure to the deadly substance, they are symptomless and do not cause disability. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of legal debate and development in the area of compensation for sufferers, so Mike Boyle reviews the legal reasoning that has led to the current position and argues that any reversal would be counter-productive.

Robert Owen CMIOSH was diagnosed with mesothelioma in September last year and sadly died six months later. He always believed that the professional advice he gave to organisations throughout his career saved many people from unnecessary pain and injury, and maybe even death. By writing this personal case study, it was his intention to continue to provide that advice by warning others of the dangers of asbestos.

The results of a comprehensive survey of the built-environment industry into the level of awareness of asbestos in buildings have uncovered some significant shortcomings in knowledge.

A university has been praised by the HSE for its commitment to safety by providing free training over and above the legal minimum requirement.

The HSE has found no evidence of raised levels of cancers among employees at a cement plant in Wales.

The HSE’s target 4000 hours of face-to-face training to be donated by asbestos training companies to vulnerable tradesmen during September has been exceeded by almost 100 per cent.

The HSE is calling on organisations that provide asbestos training to pledge free courses up to a total of 4000 hours to reflect the approximate number of deaths in Britain each year caused by the deadly dust.

Blackburn-based asbestos solutions provider, Assist Facilities Management, has launched a Web portal to provide total asbestos management for users, helping them comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

Engineering and environmental services firm Thomson Ltd has launched a new iStar Asbestos Management software system.

Start Software says it is the first asbestos-software supplier able to support data capture on Windows Mobile, Android and iPhone devices.

Risk-management software company, Msycdo, describes Shine, which was launched at SHE 11, as innovative software that takes the headache out of complying with asbestos regulations

Asbestos-services provider, the AcePSI Group, says it is continuing its expansion in the UK by opening a new regional office in Bellshill, Scotland.

AcePSI Group health and safety consultancy was created through the merger of Asbestos Consultants to the Environment and PSI2000.

AcePSI Group describes itself as one of the UK’s leading health and safety consultants, having been created through the merger of Asbestos Consultants to the Environment and PSI2000, a provider of health and safety management software.

Asbestos trainer Natas has launched an interactive e-learning programme for asbestos awareness.

A commonly heard mantra is ‘a poor asbestos survey is worse than no asbestos survey’. This will ring true with organisations who have, in some cases, parted company with large sums of money, only to be given a false sense of reassurance. This confidence is shattered when it is revealed that the surveys are less than thorough.

Asbestos specialists DMW Environmental Safety Ltd have recently launched their Analytical Response Unit. The company says it can now send a mobile unit to any mainland-UK site and test bulk material samples on site, thus avoiding transportation and routine laboratory delays.