Warning on Britain's biggest workplace killer as death toll tops 35,000

Date:

30 October 2009

A new generation of workers are at risk unless building trades get to grips with Britain's biggest workplace killer - asbestos, safety campaigners warned today.

Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that around a quarter of the 4,000 or so people dying from asbestos-related diseases each year in Britain are tradesmen such as joiners, electricians and plumbers. About twenty lose their lives each week.

Across Britain, 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 five per cent on the previous year.

HSE has today launched a £1.2 million, month-long campaign to warn Britain's 1.8 million tradesmen about the dangers they face. Asbestos: The Hidden Killer runs throughout November and will see more than 500,000 information packs sent out, as well as targeted press and radio adverts.

Steve Coldrick, HSE's Asbestos Programme Director, said:

"Sadly there is nothing we can do to stem the tragic loss of workers who were exposed to asbestos in years gone by. But we can listen to their stories - and the one thing we hear time and again from older workers is that they were never told about the risks of working with asbestos.

"With this campaign we can educate today's workforce about the risks and what action they need to take to protect themselves from this deadly dust. If tradesmen are not sure whether there is asbestos present where they are working they should stop and check.

"We cannot allow this hidden killer to claim another generation of tradesmen."

The campaign aims to educate workers about the danger asbestos presents. 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 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. 

The campaign is being backed by the TUC, trade unions, trade associations, training organisations, charities and victim support groups. 

Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, said:

"Asbestos has posed a long running threat to generations of British workers, many of whom have faced an early death because they were not told about the hidden killer in their workplaces.

"Asbestos cannot be written off as a 20th century problem, a legacy from our industrial past. 

"We owe it to the memory of those whose lives have been cut short to get the message through to today's workers, and that's why we are backing the HSE campaign."

Posters and radio adverts are currently encouraging tradesmen to get a free asbestos information pack by visiting www.hse.gov.uk/hiddenkiller. The information highlights where asbestos-containing materials may be present, what they look like, how they should be dealt with and where to find training.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
2. Although the rising levels of mesothelioma deaths reflect the increased use of asbestos in construction in the 1960s, much of this material is still in place in modern workplaces and still has the potential to kill.
3. If asbestos-containing material is in good condition and in a position where it is unlikely to be disturbed or damaged, it is safer to leave it where it is and ensure that the risks are managed. Those responsible for managing building maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings, have a duty to inform tradesmen if asbestos is present in a building where they are working. Most work with asbestos containing materials will need to be carried out by a contractor licensed by HSE. Non-licensed workers can carry out some tasks depending on' the type of asbestos-containing material, the work to be done and that they have been trained and the proper controls are in place.
4. To view or download interview with mesothelioma sufferer Christopher Morgan as part of the 'Asbestos - The Hidden Killer' campaign visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/cmorganlong.htm or http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/cmorganshort.htm

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