Maintenance workers warned - don't take the gamble with asbestos

Published by webmaster for Chesterfield Borough Council in Communities

“Don’t take a gamble with your life” is the message to maintenance workers from a campaign being run by Chesterfield Borough Council’s Health and Safety Team, linking up with a national campaign organised by the Health and Safety Executive.

These workers, including plumbers, heating engineers, carpenters and builders, account for more than a quarter of the 3,500 asbestos-related cancer deaths each year. 

To raise their awareness of the dangers of working with asbestos, information stands have been placed in local builders merchants which aim to raise awareness of the risks of working with asbestos.

More than half a million British buildings still contain some form of the material, posing a real threat to unwary maintenance workers who are at risk because they may unknowingly drill or cut into material that could contain asbestos and breathe in the deadly fibres.

Launching the campaign, Cllr Keith Morgan, Chesterfield Borough Council's Lead Member for Environmental Services, said: “Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and an early death. While current deaths are due to asbestos exposure that happened many years ago, we need to make today’s workers aware that they are at risk. This campaign focuses on how important it is for those working with asbestos not to gamble with their lives.”

Key points for maintenance workers include:

· Any pre-2000 building could contain asbestos.
· Ask if asbestos is present before starting work
· Check that the work does not require a licence
· Work safely with asbestos: wear a suitable mask and protective clothing and do not drill or cut into asbestos with power tools.

“Don’t take the gamble” also reminds those who are responsible for the maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings, either through a contract or tenancy agreement, or because they own the building, about their duties to protect maintenance workers carrying out work on their property.

Key points for persons who are responsible for buildings are:

· Manage the risk from any asbestos in the building
· Make and keep a record of its location and condition
· Tell people who may work on the building that asbestos is present, especially maintenance workers.

HSE has created a ‘one-stop shop’ asbestos website, giving a central source of comprehensive advice, at www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos <http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos>.

ENDS

Press release issued: October 3, 2006