British Broadcasting Corporation Room BC2 A4 Broadcast Centre White City Wood Lane London W12 7TP
Telephone 020 8008 2882 Email xxx@xxx.xx.xx
Information Rights
bbc.co.uk/foi
bbc.co.uk/privacy
Louis Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
14 September 2021
Dear Louis Smith,
Freedom of Information request – RFI20210985
Apologies for the delay in this response to your request to the BBC of 3 June 2021 seeking
the fol owing information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’):
“Please would it be possible to see the asbestos survey report for BBC radio
Newcastle building?”
BBC response
The BBC commissioned Interserve Environmental Services to conduct a survey (
‘the Survey’)
of possible asbestos in the BBC Newcastle building. We disclose that Survey to you in the
attached Disclosure document provided through Dropbox given the size of the file.
As explained on page 3 of that Survey, asbestos is a class 1 carcinogenic and its use in
building-materials in the UK was banned from use in building materials in new sites in 1985,
with some exceptions, and later banned outright in 1999. However given its widespread use
in building material in the UK before this time, it is accepted that it will appear in many sites.
The Survey explains that;
‘Asbestos containing materials are not hazardous where they are effectively managed and
maintained in a state of good repair’.
The BBC has in place safe management strategies to effectively manage instances of
asbestos at the BBC Newcastle site. The health and safety of everyone who uses our
buildings is an absolute priority. The amount found is low and consistent with buildings built
at that time. It is carefully managed in line with all appropriate regulations.
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British Broadcasting Corporation Room BC2 A4 Broadcast Centre White City Wood Lane London W12 7TP
Telephone 020 8008 2882 Email xxx@xxx.xx.xx
Information Rights
bbc.co.uk/foi
bbc.co.uk/privacy
The Survey includes a risk assessment matrix for the site, outlined on page 12, which
classifies the risk posed by different types of asbestos-containing building material. Table 1
of the Survey identifies that the vast majority of sites at the BBC Newcastle site are ranked
in the lowest risk category of ‘Moderate/low’.
We disclose the Survey subject to redactions for the fol owing reasons:
•
Personal data of third parties - We are withholding this information under section
40(2) (personal information) of the FOI Act. Under section 40(2), personal
information about identifiable living individuals is exempt if disclosure to a third
party would breach one or more principles in the General Data Protection
Regulation. The individual(s) concerned would not expect their personal data to be
disclosed to a third party. Therefore, disclosure would breach the principle to only
process personal data lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner.
•
Site floorplans and other, related information – We are withholding this information
under section 31(1)(a) of the FOI Act as disclosure would likely prejudice the BBC’s
capacity to prevent crime. Disclosing detailed floor plans and site would likely expose
the BBC to risk of attempts to exploit the information for nefarious means.
Appeal Rights
If you are not satisfied that we have complied with the Act in responding to your request,
you have the right to an internal review by a BBC senior manager or legal adviser. Please
contact us at the address above, explaining what you would like us to review and including
your reference number. A request for an internal review must be made within 40 working
days of receiving the BBC’s response to your original request.
If you are not satisfied with the internal review, you can appeal to the Information
Commissioner. The contact details are: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, Tel: 0303 123 1113 or see
https://ico.org.uk/. Yours sincerely,
Information Rights
BBC Freedom of Information
BC2 A4, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP
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