Young tradespeople ‘need to know the risks of asbestos exposure’ – © andre-quinou-Shutterstock
Millennials, Generation Z workers and other younger people who work as plumbers, electricians, and in other trades need to take the risk of asbestos far more seriously, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The workplace regulator this week launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with the dangerous substance.
The campaign, called ‘Asbestos and You’, will target all tradespeople with a focus on younger workers in trades such as plastering and joinery. The HSE wants to reach construction workers who started their careers after the use of asbestos was banned in 1999.
The regulator is concerned that the length of time it takes for symptoms to develop after asbestos exposure could lead to a perception among younger workers that it is something that only affects older people who were working before the ban.
Five thousand people a year still die from asbestos-related illnesses and asbestos can still be found in buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Asbestos-containing materials were used extensively in the construction and maintenance of buildings in Great Britain from the 1950s until the ban. This means that construction workers of all ages could still be exposed to asbestos fibres today.
Work-related deaths
The HSE’s chief executive Sarah Albon said: “Asbestos exposure in Great Britain is still the single greatest cause of work-related deaths. We are committed to protecting people in the workplace and reducing future work-related ill health.
“Everyone working in construction today, of any age, must take the risk from asbestos seriously.
“Asbestos is dangerous when not maintained in a safe condition or if physically disturbed without the right measures in place to avoid fibres being released into the air.”
If asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural thickening. Construction tradespeople of any age are at significant risk if they disturb materials containing asbestos during repairs and refurbishment.
HSE’s head of health and work policy Mike Calcutt said: “These diseases often take a long time to develop, and it can take 20 to 30 years for symptoms to appear.
“It is crucial that all workers know how to recognise the dangers and take the right actions to protect themselves and those around them from being exposed to asbestos fibres.”
