Asbestos: The Hidden Killer 2008 Campaign
Key facts and stats
- 4,000 deaths last year
- 1,000 of those were tradesmen (20 workmen a week)
- The numbers of deaths of plumbers, heating & ventilation engineers & electricians continue to rise
- Every week 6 electricians die from this hidden killer
- Every week 3 plumbers die from this hidden killer
- Every week 6 joiners die from this hidden killer
- Plateau in deaths from workers in 'traditional' industries such as shipbuilding, asbestos product manufacturing, metal plate workers etc
- The use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 2000
- Any building built or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos
- It is estimated that around 500,000 non-domestic buildings contain asbestos
- If 20 premiership footballers died every week then the premiership would be wiped out in 3 months!
- If 20 MPs died every week, Parliament would be empty in just 8 months
- If 20 Formula 1 drivers died every week, there would be no one left to drive after 1 week
HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk
