25 years on from the UK’s final asbestos ban, the material remains the biggest cause of work-related deaths
This month marks the 25th anniversary since legislation came into force across Great Britain and in Northern Ireland (the UK) making it illegal for anyone to buy, sell, import or export any materials containing asbestos.
Laid before parliament in August 1999, but brought into force on 24 November of that year, the Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 extended existing controls to include all remaining asbestos containing materials, notably Chrysotile (white) asbestos; legislation in 1985 had banned the importation of Amosite (brown) asbestos and Crocidolite (blue) asbestos, which are more hazardous to human health.…