Asbestos campaign develops as guidance for retailers is published

Safety & Health Practitioner

The HSE has announced it has moved to the next phase of developing a new asbestos behaviour campaign.

 

Following on from the HSE’s ‘Hidden Killer’ campaign, this new initiative is designed to drive behaviour change as well as raise awareness.

 

In a statement, the HSE disclosed that the campaign is likely to include, among other things:

 

€ﾢ production of asbestos information kits, to be distributed to trades people through a commercial partner;

€ﾢ regional radio advertising; and

€ﾢ partnership marketing, working with suppliers and retailers regularly used by trades people to deliver information and encourage behaviour change.

 

The next phase of work will involved audience testing of content to be included in the asbestos ‘information kit’, as well as securing support from commercial partners.

 

The HSE has not yet set a date for the campaign to go live, as it depends on the outcome of the activities above. An audience insight report, which has informed the campaign strategy is available on the HSE website.

 

A separate guidance document has been launched by The Retail Asbestos Working Group (RAWG), to promote the continuous improvement of asbestos management in the retail sector.

 

The RAWG consists of various organisations and bodies in the retail sector, including ASDA, Boots UK, Land Securities, Marks & Spencer, the HSE and two independent asbestos consultants who have co-authored the guidance.

 

The document is intended to provide guidance to retailers regarding their duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012, and to contractors who work in the sector. It offers an interpretation of how retailers should approach the management of asbestos during trading operations, as well as during maintenance and building works.

 

Michelle Irving of the British Retail Consortium, supports the guidance. She said: “The BRC welcomes this new initiative to help our members and other retailers. While the retail sector isn’t alone in facing day-to-day challenges managing asbestos-containing materials, this guidance directly tackles the specific challenges retailers face, and provides up-to-date and practical advice. It will help retailers comply with the law and is useful to everyone in the sector, large or small.”

 

The Management of Asbestos Containing Materials in the Retail Sector can be downloaded from the BRC website.