An estimated 1.3 million tradespeople at risk from dangers of asbestos
Health and Safety Executive have launched a new safety campaign as an average of 20 tradespeople die every week from asbestos related diseases.
As well as illustrating how often tradespeople can be exposed to asbestos, the survey revealed some common myths believed by those at risk, with 1 in seven (14 per cent) believing that drinking a glass of water will help protect them from the deadly dust and one in four (27 per cent) thinking that opening a window will help to keep them safe.
Only a third (30 per cent) of those asked, were able to identify all the correct measures for safe asbestos working, whilst more than half (57 per cent) made at least one potentially lethal mistake in trying to identify how to stay safe.
Twenty tradespeople, on average, die every week from asbestos related diseases.
Asbestos can be found in walls and ceilings, or the structure of a building, as well as a host of other places like floor tiles, boilers, toilet cisterns, guttering and soffits.
It 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 research, undertaken by Censuswide in September 2014, shows that while more than half (53 per cent) knew that asbestos could be in old buildings built before 1970, only 15 per cent knew that it could still be found in buildings built up to the year 2000.
And although many of those surveyed could pinpoint some asbestos-containing materials, others were clueless, with only 19 per cent recognising it could also be hidden in common fixtures such as toilet seats and cisterns.
Graph Contract Services– We have over 25 years hands-on experience of working with asbestos in both residential & commercial premises. We offer free impartial advice based upon our years of experience. Asbestos awareness can save lives!
If you need an asbestos survey, or a need a material sampling & analysing for asbestos, please contact Graph Contract Services on 07802 455049. We carry out asbestos sampling, asbestos management surveys, asbestos refurbishment surveys, asbestos demolition surveys, asbestos inspections, asbestos management of asbestos in domestic & non-domestic properties.
We work both local and nationally, having recently carried out asbestos surveys in Bristol, London, Manchester, Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax,
Asbestos Surveys Leeds; Asbestos Surveys Manchester; Asbestos surveys Sheffield; Asbestos surveys Bristol; Asbestos surveys Hereford; Asbestos surveys Lincoln; Asbestos surveys Wetherby; Asbestos surveys Harrogate; Asbestos surveys Lincolnshire; Asbestos surveys York; Asbestos surveys Boston Spa; Asbestos surveys Dewsbury; Asbestos surveys Suffolk; Asbestos surveys Batley; Asbestos surveys Keighley; Asbestos surveys Stockport; Asbestos surveys Greater Manchester; Asbestos surveys Bury; Asbestos surveys Bolton; Asbestos surveys Oldham; Asbestos surveys Liverpool; Asbestos surveys Chester; Asbestos surveys Barnsley; Asbestos surveys Greater Manchester; Asbestos surveys Salford; Asbestos surveys Beverley; Asbestos surveys Leeds; Asbestos surveys Bridlington; Asbestos surveys Scarborough; Asbestos surveys Lincoln; Asbestos surveys Sheffield, Asbestos surveys Castleford.
Published Oct 14, 2014
