The aim of the HSE Summit in March was to discuss and prioritise research needed to ensure informed decisions about preventing exposure to asbestos in buildings across Great Britain. It acknowledged the long-term goal of removing all asbestos, but also the limitations in capacity to do this safely and rapidly.

The invite-only event included three independent (non HSE) BOHS/FAAM members:

• Kevin Bampton (CEO of BOHS)
• Jonathan Grant (FAAM Registrar)
• Garry Burdett (Chair of FAAM SC3 “Research” Sub-committee)

As outlined in the agenda:

“The workshop aim is to collectively develop research priorities to support safe ongoing management and eventual removal of asbestos. The prioritised topics will contribute to HSE’s ‘Areas of Research Interest’ process, with the expectation that delivery will require wider collaboration beyond HSE.”

Many attendees noted a shift in emphasis—from managing asbestos in situ with removal as and when appropriate, to exploring more proactive or accelerated removal strategies.

The summit included presentations from UK and EU experts, followed by breakout sessions to formulate research themes. These were grouped into three core areas, with one FAAM representative in each:

1. Ensuring prioritised safe removal – Jonathan Grant
2. Understanding past exposures via the built environment – Garry Burdett
3. Assuring effectiveness of ongoing asbestos management – Kevin Bampton

Fourteen research topics were initially proposed. Eight were shortlisted by HSE leaders, with final voting attended by the Rt Hon Stephen Timms, Minister for HSE.

While the ideas are not yet fully defined, they represent a foundation for future research development. FAAM members are encouraged to contribute further. To support this, a webinar was held on April 8 to explain key group discussions and begin refining the top research priorities. We will also be discussing at the conference on the 14th and 15th of May.

Key Themes from Each Breakout Group:

• Safe Removal:
  What are the levels before, during (including short term) and after removal – including non-licensed activities in a range of environments (including skips/ground/cleared land)? (Ensuring prioritised safe removal)
• Past Exposure Risks:
  Can focussed workplace sampling (for example in schools and social housing) help define, guide and prioritise both current risk of asbestos related ill health and prioritise building replacement programmes? (Understanding the contribution of past exposures via the build environment to disease risk)
• Management Effectiveness:
  Need to better understand behaviours of actors in the system: do people know/understand their legal roles and responsibilities under management of ACM’s in situ and under duty to manage? (Assuring the effectiveness of ongoing active management in situ).

In the webinar, thoughts and insights were shared from each of the groups, with follow-up discussion around:

1. Existing data FAAM members can share
2. Data quality and relevance to each research question
3. Optimal methods for addressing these questions

This webinar and the FAAM conference in May is an opportunity for FAAM members to shape evidence-led strategies for dealing with the UK’s asbestos legacy.

To watch the webinar again find it here on the BOHS YouTube channel. To book your place at the FAAM Conference in Birmingham, register here.