HSE highlights importance of asbestos training
Health & Safety update 07/09/2011
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is encouraging firms to
help tradesmen protect themselves from asbestos.
The organisation is backing a new ‘Hidden Killer’ initiative
which is aiming to raise awareness of the dangers of the harmful
fibrous material.
Those offering training schemes across the country are being
asked to pledge 4,000 free hours of education and training - the
number of hours reflecting the 4,000 people who die each year from
diseases related to asbestos.
The training is aimed at those tradesmen who are the most likely
to come into contact with asbestos fibres during their work,
including plumbers, electricians and joiners.
HSE's director for long latency health risks, Karen Clayton,
said, "Our Hidden Killer campaign is helping tradesmen understand
the lifesaving fact that asbestos exposure is not just an
historical problem - around half a million public buildings still
contain it.
"This new initiative is all about tradesmen finding out exactly
what they need to do to protect themselves by taking advantage of
free training. There is sadly little we can do to help those who
are already suffering the often fatal effects of asbestos exposure
in the workplace, but we can prevent this hidden killer claiming
another generation," she added.
Just under 2,250 people died from the asbestos-related cancer
mesothelioma in 2008 alone, an increase of more than three per cent
on the year before.
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