Asbestos Awareness Campaign Launched

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says the effects of asbestos are killing around 4,000 people a year in the UK and this is set to rise further.

The figures were announced as part of a new campaign, launched by Ex-England and Arsenal Footballer Ian Wright, to make tradespeople more aware of the continuing danger of asbestos.

Exposure to the substance remains the biggest single cause of work-related deaths, which the HSE said is likely to peak at around 5,000 per year over the next five years.Over 25% of the victims are former tradespeople, with ex-employees from industries such as rail and shipbuilding believed most at risk.

One of the most common illnesses caused by asbestos is mesothelioma, which can take between 20 and 50 years to develop.

Steve Coldrick, Director of the HSE's Disease Reduction Programme says, "We need to educate tradesmen about how asbestos and its dangers are relevant to them. We want them to change the way they work so that they don't put their lives at risk."

"I can really relate to the situations tradesmen find themselves in and urge them to take care," added campaign ambassador, Ian Wright.