Removal of rubble from Spodden Valley Site

Removal of rubble from Spodden Valley Site

Environment Agency and Health & Safety Executive Joint Press Release

The Environment Agency and HSE have been working together to make sure that when rubble is removed by Federal Mogul Ltd from the ex-Turner & Newell site at Rooley Moor Road, it will be done in accordance with the relevant law and so that the workers involved and local people will be safe.

The dates for removal of the rubble have now been set for Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 November.  The rubble comes from buildings that were demolished a few years ago.  Subsequent testing has found it contains very low amounts of chrysotile asbestos.  Federal Mogul has agreed to remove the asbestos-containing rubble as if it were hazardous waste to a permitted landfill.

HSE have given Federal Mogul advice on appropriate methods of work to safely load the rubble, including the need to damp down dust. A company called SITA Waste Care will transport the waste.  SITA will use 35 cubic yard roll on/off double-sheeted containers and transfer them by road to the landfill site at Pilsworth.  A Hazardous Waste Consignment Note will accompany each load, identifying the quantity and composition of the waste. Viridor (the company who operate the landfill site) will check the paperwork is correct and the waste will travel to the specially prepared cell on the site for disposal.

HSE will make a visit to the site while the rubble is removed to check that Federal Mogul use appropriate methods of work and that the release of asbestos fibre is minimised.  The Environment Agency will check all the consignment notes and will carry out an inspection when the waste is being received at Pilsworth.  They will also confirm with Viridor that the waste has been deposited in accordance with the permit.

The health risk arising from the removal of this rubble is low.  On this occasion the members of the Rochdale ex-TBA multi-agency group have worked together to ensure that best practice should be followed.

In the last few years around 3,500 people a year have died due to asbestos-related disease. Most deaths arise from heavy asbestos exposure 30-40 years ago by workers in the shipbuilding and railway engineering industries.

Today, standards controlling exposure to asbestos through work-related activities are very much tougher.  HSE's inspectors normally concentrate their inspection efforts on the highest risk activities carried out by licensed asbestos removal workers and investigating incidents where failure to identify the presence of asbestos leads to uncontrolled exposure.

Recent changes to legislation controlling the disposal of hazardous waste now require that asbestos waste be placed within separated cells on landfill sites licensed to accept that waste.

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Save Spodden Valley has been invited by Rochdale Online to respond.