Asbestos in Soil - Event Sponsor

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd are proud sponsors of the 'Asbestos in Soil' event being held at the Manchester Conference Centre on the 1st November 2011. 
The event is being held in association with the 'Environmental Industries Commission (EIC)' and the 'British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS)' and aims to bring together technical parties to share knowledge and expertise in managing asbestos in soil and emerging developments in UK guidance.

Programme

Morning Session 1: Legislation & Policy (Chair - Richard Boyle, HCA/SAGTA)

- DEFRA review of Part 2A/DCLG review of planning - implications for owners of property contaminated by asbestos Richard Boyle, Homes & Communities Agency/Soil & Groundwater Technology Association

- HSE policy & practice - regulation of works on land contaminated with asbestos Martin Gibson, HSE

- Remediation and re-use of asbestos-contaminated soil - implications of the REACH regulation and relationship to the Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice Nicholas Willenbrock, CL:AIRE

Morning Session 2: Exposure and Risk (Chair - Andrew Darnton, HSE)

- Health risks and mortality arising from exposure to low levels of asbestos Andrew Darnton, HSE

- Part 2A determinations - a legal perspective Andrew Wiseman, Stephenson Harwood

- Reflection on the Supreme Court judgement - an insurance industry perspective Matthew Hussey, Tysers

Afternoon Session 3: Sampling & Analysis - Soils and Air (Chair - Garry Burdett, HSL)

- Current issues with soil samples/asbestos - a laboratory perspective Hazel Davidson, ALcontrol

- New sampling and analytical method for asbestos in soil Garry Burdett, HSL

- Monitoring low level exposures to asbestos in air Robin Howie, Robin Howie Associates

Afternoon Session 4: Case Studies (Chair - Steve Forster, IEG)

- From laboratory scale to field scale: Issues of representativeness Paul Nathanail, University of Nottingham and Land Quality Management Ltd

- Risk assessment/determination of SPOSH under Part 2A - a problem holder perspective Alan Jones, IOM and Anna Spinks, Wolverhampton City Council

- Investigation and remediation of asbestos in soil - a case study Steve Edgar, VertaseFLI



Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Proposals on Revised Control of Asbestos Regulations

The HSE have released a consultation document on proposed changes to the Control of Asbestos Regulations. (Consultation Document CD237).

The consultation sets out proposals "...to implement the changes required to comply with the European Commission's reasoned opinion on the UK Government's transposition of Directive 83/477/EEC as amended by 2003/18/EC on the protection of workers from the risks of exposure to asbestos at work. The reasoned opinion confirms the European Commission's view that the UK has not fully implemented Article 3(3) of the Directive which provides for the exemption of some types of lower risk work with asbestos from three requirements of the Directive: notification of work; medical examinations; and record keeping..."

Put simply the changes mean in future fewer types of lower risk asbestos work will be exempt from three requirements:

• Notification of work
• Medical examinations
• Record keeping

The HSE are seeking views on: the proposals; the guidance to be produced to explain how the changes will work in practice; and the impact on business.

The following methods have been provided for consultation response:

Online HSE questionnaire

Word response form

The full document can be viewed here: Consultation Document CD237



Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Landmark Ruling Over

The supreme court has upheld a £240,000 compensation claim in the first case of a former pupil successfully suing a local authority for negligent exposure to asbestos.

The Government now faces growing pressure to complete a full assessment of the risk from asbestos in schools.

Quotes:

Lord Justice Sedley -
"...where asbestos is involved, a risk of exposure is a risk of harm."

Annette Brooke, MP and chairwoman of the parliamentary asbestos in schools group -
"We have been pushing for an assessment of the asbestos risks to children, and this judgment, we feel, is going to give us the clout to get one."

Michael Lees, founder of the Asbestos Exposure in Schools campaign group -
"The ruling has profound implications."

Husband of the deceased claimant -
"If her case helps others get justice more easily that has to be a good thing"

Knowsley council -
"It has always been clear that Mrs Willmore suffered from a severe illness which was caused by exposure to asbestos and the council is, and always has been, extremely sympathetic towards Mrs Willmore and her family."

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers -
"It has been known for many years that children are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of asbestos exposure, even at low levels. In the last 10 years, 140 teachers have died of mesothelioma. If teachers are dying from their exposure, inevitably pupils will die too in later life. Because of the long latency period, however, there are no records of adults who have died because of childhood exposure."

Coverage: The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/mar/09/asbestos-school-compensation-dianne-willmoreThe BBC  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-12686641Channel 4  (Dead link)Supreme Court Press Release http://www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk/pdfnewslinks/supreme%20court%20summary.pdf

If you would like advice on managing the risk from asbestos or need an asbestos survey or asbestos air testing, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

All Change on Asbestos Front – NFDC Journal

Riverside Environmental’s Director Jonathan Francis has just had an article published in the NFDC Journal, "All Change on Asbestos Front", the journal is the annual publication of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors.

In the article Jonathan Francis describes the changes in the asbestos industry, from the publication of the new Surveyors Guide, to the greater awareness of asbestos brought about through HSE increases in information, guidance and the number of inspection visits.

To read the full article please click on the attached file at the base of this page.

If you need assistance ensuring you comply with the asbestos regulations, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can.


Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161

Asbestos – Dangers in the Dust – BBC iPlayer

The seriousness of the risk posed by Asbestos has prompted the BBC to run a season called ”Dangers in the Dust”, this series looks at the asbestos problem in the light of some experts warning that by 2030 asbestos could be linked to millions of deaths.

Here we have provided links to the short programmes held on the BBC iPlayer:

·         BBC and ICIJ journalist meets scientists on both sides of the Asbestos debate. click here

·         Nellie Kershaw’s Story – Diagnosis which eventually led to the banning of asbestos in the UK. click here

·         Visit to Indian shanty town where sheets of broken asbestos surround those who live there. click here

·         Business Daily looks at the qualities and risks of white asbestos. click here

The story of Steve Lee who has lived with the incurable cancer, mesothelioma. click here

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.
info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk
http://www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/
0870 950 0161

Riverside Director Jonathan Francis made Chairman of ATaC

 



We are very proud to announce that Riverside director Jonathan Francis has been made chairman of ATaC – Asbestos Testing and Consultancy. 

 

What is ATaC?

 ATaC was established in 1998 to promote high standards in all aspects of  asbestos consultancy work, assist the Health and Safety Executive and Health and Safety Commission and to elevate awareness of the hazards from deadly asbestos fibres.

As a valued member of ATaC, Jonathan Francis is very happy to be involved in continuing the essential aims and objectives of the organisation and will ensure Riverside continues to be at the forefront of providing those excellent standards in all its survey and analytical works.

In the latest edition of the ATaC journal Jonathan Francis acknowledged the “effort, time and commitment” the previous Chairman John O’Sullivan had provided before setting out some of the ways he intends to continue and further the objectives of the organisation.

Use these links for more information about ATaC or to read the latest journal.

Riverside Environmental Services Ltd provide high quality exposure assessment and monitoring services nationwide. Including; Asbestos, Legionella, COSHH, Air Testing, Occupational Health, Noise and Vibration. See our full list of services for details.

For more information please contact us.

info@riversideenvironmental.co.uk

http://www.riversideenvironmental.co.uk/

0870 950 0161