Following a recent crackdown on poor health and safety, farmers have been told to take immediate action on asbestos within their premises, or risk being fined.
Farmers and employers responsible for managing farms in the UK, have a legal obligation to protect workers and visitors under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
A recent drive by the HSE, aims to improve health and safety in agriculture overall.
Since the drive’s introduction, a number of unannounced inspections have been carried out, and a few large fines have been issued across the UK for breach of health and safety regulations.
A high proportion of older farm buildings, which were constructed when asbestos was a common component of many popular building products, puts farmers, workers, and their families across the UK at a particularly high risk.
Asbestos exposure can lead to many serious, and often fatal diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Are you a farmer worried about asbestos on your premises? Need a an asbestos survey or testing services? Contact us on 0207 264 1010 and we can help
http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/sector-plans/ag-sec-intervention-strategy.pdf
