Asbestos at Primark, Belfast

Belfast City Council did not have the information requested.

Dear Belfast City Council,

Can you please provide information in respect of the fire at Primark, Belfast and the resulting removed asbestos.

It is reported in the news that there is ongoing asbestos removal from the site of Primark, Belfast.

Please provide all data in respect of the following where the data is held.

1. What and how many inspections were taken by the council bodies in respect of the environmental impact the fire would have on the environment?

2. Please provide the report or findings of the report of the inspections as per question 1.

3. What and how many inspections were taken by the council bodies in respect of the environmental impact the fire has had on the community, including the impact of welfare, health and potential determent to the public, specifically in relation to asbestos contained within the building and the spread and impact. I would ask that this information include the anticipated area or areas/distance from the fire that could be expected to be affected.

4. Before the fire, what inspections were undertaken of the Primark facility by council officials in respect of safety?

5. During any inspections as per question 4, was asbestos detected within the buildings of Primark, Belfast? When was this information known, asbestos detected?

6. What recommendations were made to Primark at the time of the inspections to meet the current health and safety criterium?

7. What action was taken by Primark and the it was taken as per question 6 to rectify any concerns raised by the council in respect of the asbestos contained within their Belfast City Centenaries facility?

Yours faithfully,

Mr Fairfield

Mark McGovern, Belfast City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Fairfield

 

Please see attached request for clarification.

Regards

 

 

Mark McGovern

Senior EHO

Health and Safety Unit

Belfast City Council

Tel. 02890 320202 x3297

Mob.07713 684708

 

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Dear Mark McGovern,

In relation to your question, bullet point 4. I can clarify I want to know both the details of any inspections carried out by both Council Officials of Primark and Health and Safety Officials of Belfast City Council.

In regards to bullet point 6. I understand there are requirements to maintain buildings so they are fit for purpose and habitation. These requirements can be updated as technology and reviews of health and safety are undertaken. I wish to know if, based on the health and safety criterium before the date of the fire at Bank Buildings, if there were known issues about the asbestos prior to the fire by one or both inspectors and if there was corrective measures recommended.

Referring to bullet point 7. I also want to know what, if any, work was done to remedy any short fallings in respect of the asbestos and what date it was carried out. That is if there were any short fallings as there may be none.

Yours sincerely,

Eric Fairfield

Mark McGovern, Belfast City Council

Mr Fairfield

 

Thanks for your assistance with this matter.

Regarding Q.7 in your original request you refer to  ‘their Belfast City
Centenaries facility’- are you referring to Primark’s Bank Buildings
facility  in the Belfast city centre?

Thank you in anticipation

 

Mark McGovern

Senior EHO

Health and Safety Unit

Belfast City Council

Tel. 02890 320202 x3297

 

Any personal details that you provide the Council will be handled in
accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

 

As such we will only use your data for the purposes that you have given
this information for and will only be shared where necessary to provide
the service that you are contacting us about.

 

If you would like further information in regards please see the website
belfastcity.gov.uk/about/privacy

 

From: Eric Fairfield <[FOI #606977 email]>
Sent: 20 October 2019 16:27
To: Mark McGovern <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request – Asbestos at Primark, Belfast

 

Dear Mark McGovern,

In relation to your question, bullet point 4. I can clarify I want to know
both the details of any inspections carried out by both Council Officials
of Primark and Health and Safety Officials of Belfast City Council.

In regards to bullet point 6. I understand there are requirements to
maintain buildings so they are fit for purpose and habitation. These
requirements can be updated as technology and reviews of health and safety
are undertaken. I wish to know if, based on the health and safety
criterium before the date of the fire at Bank Buildings, if there were
known issues about the asbestos prior to the fire by one or both
inspectors and if there was corrective measures recommended.

Referring to bullet point 7. I also want to know what, if any, work was
done to remedy any short fallings in respect of the asbestos and what date
it was carried out. That is if there were any short fallings as there may
be none.

Yours sincerely,

Eric Fairfield

show quoted sections

Mark McGovern, Belfast City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Fairfield

Please see attached

Regards

 

Mark McGovern

Senior EHO

Health and Safety Unit

Belfast City Council

Tel. 02890 320202 x3297

 

 

The information contained in or attached to this message is intended only
for the people to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, storage,
disclosure or copying of this information is unauthorised and prohibited.
This information may be confidential or subject to legal privilege. If you
have received this
email in error please notify the sender immediately by using the reply
facility in your email software and then delete the email from your inbox.
The contents of this
message do not represent the expressed view of Belfast City Council unless
that is clearly stated. Belfast City Council cannot accept liability in
the event that the
onward transmission, opening, or use of this message and/or any
attachments adversely affects the recipient's systems or data.