Tradesmen in the West Midlands can now take advantage of hundreds of hours of free asbestos awareness training in a bid to tackle ignorance about Britain's biggest industrial killer.
In total, more than 450 hours of face-to-face training during October and November have been pledged for tradesmen in the following locations across the region - Bromsgrove, Birmingham, Burton-upon-Trent, Halesowen, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Wolverhampton.
A further 5,570 hours of web-based training is also available, which includes courses in Romanian, Russian and Polish.
In the West Midlands, 152 people died from the asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma, in 2008, the latest year for which figures are available, and it is hoped that training will help prevent this lethal disease claiming another generation of tradesmen.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in partnership with industry, set a poignant target of 4,000 hours of face-to-face training to be donated during September - one hour for each life lost to asbestos-related illnesses in an average year. A target of a further 4,000 hours of online training was also set.
But thanks to an overwhelming response from training providers across Britain, the combined target of 8,000 hours has been smashed by more than 50 per cent.
The free training is aimed at those most likely to disturb the asbestos fibres as they go about their work - tradesmen such as joiners, electricians and plumbers, around 20 of whom lose their lives to asbestos-related diseases every week.
The asbestos training pledge initiative is part of HSE's Hidden Killer campaign to raise awareness that asbestos is not just an historical problem - around half a million non-domestic premises still contain it.
Said Rosi Edwards, HSE's regional director for the West Midlands:
"This training will save lives by getting tradesmen to realise that their day to day job could - completely unintentionally - expose them to asbestos. The training will help them recognise where they may come across asbestos, how to recognise it and what to do about it and prevent this hidden killer from claiming another generation of British tradesmen.
"The response has been overwhelming and has completely exceeded our expectations. There's been a real groundswell of support from a whole range of training providers.
"We expect demand for the courses to be high and urge tradesmen to go to www.hse.gov.uk and get signed up now. A few hours in a classroom or in front of a computer could add decades to people's lives. The courses literally could be a life saver."
Doug Jewell, Project Manager of Digbeth-based Asbestos Support West Midlands, said:
"The response to this offer of free asbestos awareness training has exceeded everyone's expectations, it has been truly fantastic. This training will provide a unique opportunity for thousands of workers to better understand the hazards of asbestos.
"Each day we visit newly diagnosed mesothelioma sufferers who never had the benefit of such training. They were never warned of the dangers of asbestos at work or how essential it was to avoid exposure. Their suffering shows the vital importance of training today.
"We hope that the widespread support for the HSE's asbestos awareness campaign continues. We hope that every worker who might be exposed to asbestos is reached and lives are saved which would otherwise be lost."
Independent Asbestos Training Providers (IATP), the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) and the Asbestos Safety Health Environmental e-Learning Association (ASHeLA) have been inviting their members to pledge.
Said Christine Winter, Chair of IATP:
"It is fantastic to be part of something that has had such huge support and we thank the training industry - IATP members, those affiliated to other bodies and independent providers for their generosity. We will continue to spread the message of the dangers of asbestos exposure. Asbestos destroys individuals, families and communities."
Said Eddie Strong, UKATA Vice-Chairman:
"As we enter the training period of the campaign after an overwhelming pledge period, the UKATA on behalf of its members would like to reaffirm its support for HSE and this great initiative. Our members have been extremely generous in giving up their time to support such a cause, pledging 3,412.5 hours of free training which equates to training for 975 tradesmen. If it will just help save one life from this horrendous disease, then it will have been well worthwhile. UKATA recognises that it is not just down to our members but also, that of other groups and independent training providers who have equally made this campaign what it is."
Max Lopacki from ASHEeLA said:
"We are extremely encouraged by the response to the eLearning pledges which are fast being taken up by a wide variety of tradesmen from the self-employed to those working for SMEs or larger organisations such as local authorities and universities. We have also had a very positive response to the foreign language courses offered. Our members are pleased to see that eLearning is helping to bridge the gap in asbestos awareness training."
Those wanting to sign up to free training, classroom-based or web-based can see what has been pledged by following links on HSE's website www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/training-pledge
Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.
Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR West Midlands
Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office who act as HSE's Press Office throughout Great Britain.
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