Tradespeople including construction workers, carpenters, painters and decorators, could come into contact with deadly asbestos more than 100 times a year on average, according to a new survey commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The results of the survey, carried out with 500 tradespeople, also found that only a third (30 per cent) of respondents were able to identify all the correct measures for safe asbestos working, while more than half (57 per cent) made at least one potentially lethal mistake in trying to identify how to stay safe.
The HSE said that an average of 20 tradespeople died each week from disease related to asbestos, which can be found in walls and ceilings and in the structure of a building, like floor tiles, boilers, toilet cisterns, guttering and soffits. Asbestos can be disturbed by basic maintenance work like drilling holes and sanding and once disturbed, the microscopic fibres can prove lethal if breathed in, causing lung disease and cancer.
The HSE research, published on 9 October, also found that more than half (53 per cent) of respondents knew that asbestos could be found in buildings constructed before 1970 but only 15 per cent that it could still be found in buildings built up to the year 2000.
HSE has now launched a launched a new safety campaign to highlight asbestos risks, including launching an app for phones, tablets and laptops that helps tradespeople easily identify where they could come into contact with the deadly material and provides help on how to deal with the risks.
Health and Safety Minister Mark Harper said: “Despite being banned in the construction industry, asbestos exposure remains a very serious risk to tradespeople. This safety campaign is about highlighting the risks and easy measures people can take to protect themselves.”
Philip White, the HSE’s chief inspector for construction, said: “Asbestos is still a very real danger and the survey findings suggest that the people who come into contact with it regularly often don’t know where it could be and worryingly don’t know how to deal with it correctly, which could put them in harm’s way.”
Palmers can provide comprehensive advice to employers on all aspects of health and safety management in the workplace, including those relating to asbestos-related risk assessment and risk management.
We can also assist tenants, landlords and managing agents of commercial properties, who may be responsible for managing asbestos, by providing advice on their obligations and representation in investigatory interviews related to a breach of regulations.
For clarification or guidance on health and safety responsibilities, or if facing prosecution, please visit our website or contact our health and safety specialists Lara Murray and Jeremy Sirrell.