The Health and Safety Executive has launched a new campaign, ‘Asbestos and You‘, to raise awareness of the risks amongst younger tradespeople
Workplace regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has launched a new ‘Asbestos and You’ campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with the dangerous substance.
The campaign will target all tradespeople with a focus on younger workers in trades such as plastering and joinery. HSE wants to reach construction workers who started their careers after the use of asbestos was banned in 1999 and may be less familiar with the risks.
Five thousand people a year still die from asbestos related illnesses and asbestos can still be found in buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000.
There are concerns that asbestos is considered a problem of the past and not the present
Asbestos containing materials were used extensively in the construction and maintenance of buildings in Great Britain from the 1950s until the ban. That means construction workers of all ages could still be exposed to asbestos fibres today through working on older buildings.
The regulator is concerned that given the length of time it takes for symptoms to develop after asbestos exposure, there is a belief among today’s younger workers that it is something that only impacts older people who were working before the ban.
HSE’s chief executive Sarah Albon said: “Asbestos exposure in Great Britain is still the single greatest cause of work-related deaths. We are committed to protecting people in the workplace and reducing future work-related ill health.
“Everyone working in construction today, of any age, must take the risk from asbestos seriously.
“Asbestos is dangerous when not maintained in a safe condition or if physically disturbed without the right measures in place to avoid fibres being released into the air.”
Asbestos fibres can cause significant health issues and even be fatal
If asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestos related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural thickening. Construction tradespeople of any age are at significant risk if they disturb materials containing asbestos during repairs and refurbishment.
HSE’s head of health and work policy Mike Calcutt said: “These diseases often take a long time to develop, and it can take 20 to 30 years for symptoms to appear.
“It is crucial that all workers know how to recognise the dangers and take the right actions to protect themselves and those around them from being exposed to asbestos fibres.”
