The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Jewson, the UK's leading supplier of timber and building materials, have joined forces to help warn tradesmen of the dangers of asbestos.

Jewson's Wednesbury branch is one of the national network backing HSE's 'Asbestos:The Hidden Killer' campaign to reduce the rising death rate from asbestos-related disease by educating those in the trade about the danger that asbestos presents to them.

Figures issued by the Health and Safety Executive have revealed that every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related diseases and this number is set to increase. Across the West Midlands region the rate is one death every 3 days.

HSE Inspector Nic Rigby said: "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.


"Research shows that many workers, particularly tradesmen, think that they are not personally at risk of exposure to asbestos and the diseases it can cause. They think that, since asbestos was banned many years ago, the problem has been dealt with and therefore it is not relevant to them. The reality is very different.

"Asbestos presents a real and relevant risk to plumbers, joiners, electricians and many other maintenance workers. Asbestos may be present in any building constructed or refurbished before the year 2000, and it is estimated that around 500,000 non-domestic buildings could contain asbestos. These buildings all need repair and maintenance work from time to time and when the asbestos fibres are disturbed e.g. by drilling or cutting, they are likely to be inhaled as a deadly dust."

If asbestos-containing material is in good condition and in a position where it cannot be disturbed or damaged, it is safer to leave it where it is and ensure that the risks are managed. Those responsible for managing building maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings, have a duty to inform tradesmen if asbestos is present in a building they are working in. Depending on the type of asbestos-containing material, and providing they have been trained and the proper controls are in place, they may be able to work on the project. Asbestos sprayed coatings, board or lagging on pipes and boilers – should only be tackled by licensed workers.

(CD)