That is a tragedy for those affected and it happened because in the past proper precautions were not taken by the employers to safeguard the health of their employees.

S Booth (Mail, October 1), then said, in relation to Seaton Meadows, that "asbestos was not covered or dampened to prevent fibres being released into the air".

That happened a few years ago and the Environment Agency said that "heavy machinery used to crush the asbestos could have released dangerous fibres into the air".

In other words no fibres were actually released. That is why I said in a previous letter there was no evidence of danger to anyone from asbestos fibres. However, Able UK had to pay a fine of £22,000 because of an unforeseeable machinery breakdown and human error.

The situation is different today. Able UK have been given permission to remove asbestos from ships and other marine structures on condition that the work is done without endangering the health of the workforce or the general public.

There are detailed codes of practice dealing with the removal and disposal of asbestos, and engineers from the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive have the job of making sure that the work is done in accordance with detailed Government regulations.

Able UK employs a firm of asbestos removal specialists to ensure that the work is done safely and, in addition to that, the council has appointed another firm of asbestos specialists, Scott Wilson Ltd, to make doubly sure that safe working practices are implemented.

Finally the High Court recently refused to approve an application for a Judicial Review into Able UKs intention to dismantle the Clemenceau at Graythorp.

The Court saw no reason to prevent Able from carrying out their contract with the French. So the work will now go ahead.

The health of the workforce and the public will clearly be fully protected during the ship dismantling activities.

Jim Allan,
Hartlepool.