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full screenCompanies that demolished asbestos in such dangerous ways that they were banned from handling the substance can still continue. Archive image. Photo: Tomas Oneborg/Svd/TT
The Work Environment Agency revoked the asbestos permit for 28 entrepreneurs between 2015 and 2023. 21 of them have nevertheless continued to demolish asbestos, shows an examination by Ekot in Sveriges Radio.
Several of the company owners have been able to get around the Work Environment Authority’s sanctions by transferring the asbestos operations to another company. Of the 21 that continued operations, 15 have again been criticized and received a penalty fee, an immediate stop or even lost their permit again.
A business has lost its license three times, but is still active and cleaning up today, Ekot’s review shows.
Over 200 demolitions of older buildings containing asbestos were criticized last year by the Swedish Work Environment Authority. Asbestos was totally banned in 1982, but before that it was widely used in construction.