The HSA Carries Out a ‘Blitz’ of Asbestos Inspections in Ireland

21 Nov 2019

In a bid to reduce the rate of death and injury in the Irish construction industry, the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) is launching a series of asbestos inspections at construction sites across Ireland. In 2018 there were six reported deaths at these sites and with asbestos representing the biggest risk in existence for construction workers, it would seem that a concerted effort to carry out these inspections could literally save lives.

Safe Asbestos Removal
In addition to inspecting Irish construction sites for the presence of silica dust, the HSA will be checking that asbestos removal and disposal is being carried out safely and that all asbestos regulations are followed to the letter. The unfortunate fact is that despite the inherent dangers of asbestos fibre inhalation being widely publicised by asbestos abatement companies like ours, there are still many construction professionals not paying the necessary amount of attention to protect the lives of workers against it.

“Preventing Long Term Illness”
Mark Cullen, the Assistant Chief Executive of the HSA stated that this move to create safer working environments was made with a view to preventing long term illnesses and allowing construction workers to return home safe every evening. Almost 150,000 people work in the Irish construction industry, meaning that knowing how to remove asbestos safely is an absolute must in the effort to prevent more people contracting the deadly asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.

The work of bodies like the HSA is vital in the face of so many asbestos-related deaths and the more focus that is put on the issue, the more people will realise just how deadly and widespread the material is in homes and offices across the country.

Suspect You May Have an Asbestos Problem?
At OHSS Safety Consultants, we are one of the foremost asbestos companies in Ireland and we have been helping to protect the Irish public from dangers in the workplace since 2001. If you are planning renovation or construction works and you suspect there may be asbestos in the building, it’s imperative that you call professional asbestos surveyors to ensure that everyone involved is safe.

If you’d like to know more about anything we’ve spoken about here, you can find out what you need to know on our website www.ohss.ie. Alternatively, if you’d like to speak to a member of our team about your occupational hygiene needs, they’re available on (01) 6905907 and are ready and waiting to give you the guidance you need.

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