Asbestos - a killer still in hiding!
Asbestos is still considered the UK’s biggest workplace killer and despite decades advertising this message, it seems a new generation of workers is at risk.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), around 25% of the 4,000 who die from asbestos-related diseases each in Britain year – approx. 20 per week - are tradesmen such as joiners, electricians and plumbers.
Across the UK, more than 35,000 people died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma between 1977 and 2007 – and the numbers dying are increasing. Latest annual figures show that 2,156 people died from the disease in 2007 alone, up 5% on the previous year.
HSE has launched a £1.2 million campaign throughout November, and will send out more than 500,000 information packs as well as targeted press and radio adverts, to warn Britain’s 1.8 million tradesmen about the dangers they face. The campaign is being backed by the TUC, trade unions, trade associations, training organisations, charities and victim support groups.
The HSE reports that the one thing they hear time and again from older workers is that they were never told about the risks of working with asbestos! Research shows that tradesmen, in particular, think that asbestos is a historical problem and they are not at risk. But it is a real risk facing plumbers, joiners, electricians, painters and decorators and many other maintenance workers every day. Asbestos may be present in any building constructed or refurbished before the year 2000, and it is estimated that around 500,000 workplace premises could contain asbestos.
If tradesmen are not sure whether there is asbestos present where they are working they should stop and check. If repair and maintenance work is not done safely it can lead to asbestos fibres being released into the air by drilling or cutting, and workers breathing them in.
Students beginning their skills training on the City & Guilds Plumbing NVQ 6129 Level 2 course will learn about the dangers of asbestos, gaining knowledge in identifying all the different types of asbestos material and where they may be found in variety of building constructions. In particular, how to correctly deal with an unexpected discovery of hidden asbestos and the immediate actions that must be taken for its immediate safe disposal by the mandatory authorities.
