New Instances Of Asbestos Exposure ‘Continuing To Put Lives At Risk’

1. New Instances Of Asbestos Exposure ‘Continuing To Put Lives At Risk’ We receive all too many reminders here at Trident Asbestos Solutions of the importance that Asbestos Awareness Training retains well into the 21st century, and recent statistics have shown that the risk of coming into contact with asbestos is still a genuine one for some workers. Sobering figures for anyone concerned about asbestos As reported by Health & Safety Matters, the period since the start of 2018 has seen 135 companies or individuals ordered to halt work activities due to a failure to comply with asbestos regulations, in addition to 130 that were warned of the need to improve. 31 more companies or individuals have been prosecuted for breaches, being hit with fines of between £1 and £200,000 and even – in some cases – seeing prison sentences handed to their directors. Such punishments pale into insignificance, however, compared to the human cost of encountering lethal asbestos fibres. At least 5,000 deaths a year in Britain are still linked to it. Efforts to boost awareness of the persistent dangers of asbestos Although it usually takes several decades or more for asbestos exposure to lead to a diagnosis of asbestos-related cancer, the Institution of Occupational Safety and

2. Health (IOSH) is concerned that the risk remains of many more people continuing to come into fresh contact with asbestos. The organisation says this fear is based on the widespread lack of awareness about asbestos, uncertainty as to how it should be managed, and the fact that at least half a million buildings are still thought to contain the harmful material. Bev Messinger, IOSH chief executive, commented: “It is unacceptable that, 20 years on from asbestos being banned in Britain, organisations are still potentially putting at risk the lives of employees, their families and other members of the public. “Thousands die in Britain every year from cancers like mesothelioma, while many more are diagnosed with it... all this is preventable through good occupational safety and health. It is time for organisations to wake up and realise how dangerous asbestos is. There are no excuses.” For more information visit our website: www.tridentsurveying.co.uk