Lewisham Council is addressing concerns raised by a recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection regarding asbestos records and training in council premises. The inspection identified a number of improvements required regarding records and training related to asbestos.
The council's response and asbestos action plan is due to be submitted to the HSE on 27 July 2025.
The issue came to light during a Health and Safety Committee meeting on 1 July 2025, where members received a Corporate Health & Safety Board Update. The agenda for the meeting included a review of the minutes from the previous meeting, declarations of interest, and the corporate health and safety board update.
The update also included a review of premises inspections, which are completed quarterly using new health and safety software. The new software allows officers to complete and distribute reports, including photographic evidence, before leaving the site. This enables issues to receive immediate attention from premises officers or facilities management as appropriate. The software also allows for live monitoring and reporting, plus improved ability to tailor and query reports. The report noted that none of the issues identified posed a direct and immediate threat to staff or service users. Typical issues included obstructions, testing of safety equipment, and signage.
The committee also discussed incident reports, noting a slight year-to-year increase in incidents, driven by a rise in reports of verbal abuse or threatening behaviour. The committee requested a focus on the locations of these incidents involving members of the public. The meeting information does not specify what measures are being taken to address the increase in reports of verbal abuse or threatening behaviour.