Asbestos is not considered harmful when it is in large pieces and undamaged.
However, if it is disturbed or damaged, it can become a danger to health. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases., employers have a duty to prevent workers being exposed to the substance at work.was carried out by the Labour Research Department, a union research organisation.
The TUC accused the government of "turning a blind eye" to the scale of the problem, and called for legislation to require that all asbestos was removed from public buildings. It wants a future Labour government to include this removal as part of a large-scale retrofit programme for all public buildings.In April 2022, then-Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Chloe Smith said the government had "a clearly stated goal" that "it is right to - over time and in the safest way - work towards there no longer being asbestos in non-domestic buildings".
Labour MP Ian Lavery, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health, said: "If asbestos is in a building, it will at some point become dangerous if it's disturbed, so we need plans in place for its removal from all public buildings."People are advised to contact their local council for more information about its removal and disposal.