According to new research one third of construction workers have never checked the Asbestos Register
A survey carried out by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) found one in three construction workers have never checked a site’s asbestos register before starting work.
Although 59% of respondents said they had been informed of the risks posed by asbestos and undertaken regular training, 15% said they had never been informed. Furthermore, 18% admitted they would either be unsure or have no idea what to do if they found asbestos.
Asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999. Asbestos fibres can be found in many products including roofing, spray coatings, insulation boards and ropes. Exposure can cause mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer. The Health and Safety Executive estimates 5,000 people die every year in the UK as a result of workplace exposure.
The results confirm that while people have heard of asbestos and know what the effects of being exposed to it are, they are not sure how to check for its presence or then what to do if they find it.
The survey was conducted ahead of the launch of the fourth phase of IOSH’s No Time to Lose Occupational Cancer Campaign. The campaign aims to explain the causes of occupational cancer and help businesses take actions.
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