Trades people in Yorkshire and the Humber 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.
Nearly 900 hours of face-to-face training during October and November have been pledged in the region with sessions promised in Sheffield, Scunthorpe, Brighouse, Wakefield, Drighlington and Ossett. Further hours of web-based training have also been pledged.
More than 800 men and women died in the region from asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma between 2001 and 2005. It is hoped that training will help prevent it claiming another generation of workers in industries such as joinery, construction and plumbing.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in partnership with industry, set a poignant target of 4000 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 further target of 4000 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 percent (see Notes to editors).
The free training is aimed at those most likely to disturb the asbestos fibres as they go about their work -around 20 of whom lose their lives to asbestos-related diseases every week.
Said Paul Spurrier, HSE's Head of Operations for Yorkshire & Humber:
"This training will save lives by helping to tackle the dangerous ignorance that still prevails about the risks of working with asbestos. It will help prevent this hidden killer from claiming lives from another generation of trades people.
"The response from training providers has been overwhelming and 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 so those interested need 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 years to someone's life."
Paula Walker, from the South Yorkshire Asbestos Victim Support Group, said:
"The response to HSE's call for free asbestos training has been fantastic. In Yorkshire and Humber alone the hours pledged account for nearly a quarter of the target of 4000 face-to-face hours across the whole country.
"Our group deals deal first hand with consequences of exposure to asbestos. About 200 new sufferers look to us for help each year just in this area of South Yorkshire and North Notts, including many tradespeople. They are people who were never warned of the dangers of asbestos at work and who never knew how essential it was to avoid exposure to it. The importance of asbestos awareness and training today cannot be exaggerated - it's absolutely vital."
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.
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.
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.
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 3412.5 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"
Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.
Issued on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive by COI News & PR Yorkshire and the Humber
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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