British Lung Foundation presents petition to the government condemning HSE proposal to relax asbestos regulations
Proposals from the Health and Safety Executive to relax asbestos regulations have come under fire from the British Lung Foundation in a 13,000-signature petition to the government on the dangers of the substance.
The petition, presented to 10 Downing Street today, marked Action Mesothelioma Day, which highlights the dangerous effects of asbestos. Deaths from the disease are set to peak in the next decade as a result of the widespread use of the material in the 1960s and 1970s.
In proposals published at the end of last year, the HSE revealed plans to allow non-licensed contractors to remove decorative coatings containing asbestos. The plans have been attacked by MPs and unions amid fears they could put workers, homeowners and families at risk.
