On March 13th, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published new research showing that potential risks from asbestos-containing textured coatings (such as Artex) are much lower than previously thought. This new research is being used to support the proposal that working with such coatings should no longer require a special license.

After receiving advice from Asbestos Watchdog on asbestos-containing textured coatings, the HSE commissioned the Health and Safety Laboratories (HSL) to explore the matter further. Coatings were found to contain only small amounts of asbestos, bound so tightly in a matrix that the fibres could not readily be released; any risk from these was comparable to asbestos cement products, which currently do not require a license to remove.

For full press details please see the following links:

http://asbestos-cawr2002.blogspot.com/2006/03/householders-could-be-saved-20-billion.html
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2006/e06027.htm