Sheffield Council aims to conduct first major asbestos policy overhaul since 2012

The housing committee will consider the proposed strategic update at a meeting next week, marking the first comprehensive revision since 2012.

A report prepared ahead of the meeting explains that asbestos is the common name for a group of naturally occurring fibrous materials. These were widely used in building and equipment components due to their high tensile strength and resistance to chemical damage and temperatures above 100°C.

Before its use was banned in the UK, it’s estimated that several thousand household products contained asbestos.

Although the council has maintained an asbestos policy since 2009—and has updated it annually to remain compliant with regulations—“a strategic update to the whole asbestos policy has not been conducted since 2012.”

The aim of the update is to clarify responsibilities for tenants, contractors, and staff regarding asbestos management.

Among the proposed changes is a section outlining the legislative background and broader regulatory context of asbestos management.

Another key revision would shorten the existing five-year plan to a four-year plan, aiming to improve operational efficiency and planning.

Addressing asbestos risks remains a public health priority. It’s currently estimated that asbestos-related deaths in the UK range between 2,500 and 3,000 per year.

The main diseases linked to asbestos fibre inhalation include asbestosis (scarring of lung tissue), cancers such as mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, and diffuse pleural thickening—a non-malignant disease affecting the lining of the lungs.

The council’s housing policy committee will discuss the matter at 10am next Thursday (April 24) at Sheffield Town Hall.