Summary
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has concluded its review of Great Britain’s asbestos control limit, deciding to maintain the current standard of 0.1 fibres per millilitre (f/ml) over a four-hour time-weighted average. Despite the European Union’s decision to lower its exposure limits and recommendations from a 2022 parliamentary report, the HSE found no clear evidence that a statutory reduction would improve health outcomes. The regulator maintains that the existing “as low as reasonably practicable” (ALARP) framework provides sufficient protection, provided that control measures, site discipline, and training are strictly enforced.
Analysis
The HSE’s decision reflects a pragmatic approach that prioritises practical implementation over lower numerical thresholds. By choosing not to follow the EU’s lead, the HSE is highlighting two primary concerns: the technical difficulty of accurately measuring lower fibre concentrations and the potential economic burden on businesses. Lowering the limit would likely reclassify almost all asbestos-related tasks as “licensable” activity, significantly increasing costs without necessarily reducing actual exposure. The analysis suggests that the UK regulator views worker behaviour, competence, and rigorous enforcement as more effective drivers of safety than a change in legislation. However, the HSE will remain under pressure to justify this divergence from international trends, particularly as it monitors the EU’s further planned reviews in 2029.