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| Workmen 'ignoring asbestos risk' | Workmen 'ignoring asbestos risk' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Some 4,000 people a year are dying from the effects of asbestos and that figure is likely to increase, the Health and Safety Executive has said. | Some 4,000 people a year are dying from the effects of asbestos and that figure is likely to increase, the Health and Safety Executive has said. |
| The HSE says 1,000 of the victims are former tradesmen, but it fears today's plumbers, electricians and joiners are underestimating the ongoing risk. | |
| Asbestos was used for fire-proofing and insulation until a ban in 2000, but it remains in some 500,000 UK buildings. | Asbestos was used for fire-proofing and insulation until a ban in 2000, but it remains in some 500,000 UK buildings. |
| It can cause cancers and lung illness if its dust is inhaled. | It can cause cancers and lung illness if its dust is inhaled. |
| Exposure to the material remains the biggest single cause of work-related deaths, likely to peak at around 5,000 per year in the next five years, the HSE says. | Exposure to the material remains the biggest single cause of work-related deaths, likely to peak at around 5,000 per year in the next five years, the HSE says. |
| On Monday, Selfridges replaced the display windows of its 100-year-old Oxford Street store in London after the substance was found in some of the frames. | On Monday, Selfridges replaced the display windows of its 100-year-old Oxford Street store in London after the substance was found in some of the frames. |
| Exposure kills | Exposure kills |
| If asbestos fibres are disturbed by drilling or cutting during refurbishment, they can prove deadly. | If asbestos fibres are disturbed by drilling or cutting during refurbishment, they can prove deadly. |
| Illnesses like mesothelioma typically take between 20 and 50 years to develop, depending on the levels and frequency of exposure. | Illnesses like mesothelioma typically take between 20 and 50 years to develop, depending on the levels and frequency of exposure. |
| The majority of those affected today are former employees in industries such as shipbuilding and the railways. ASBESTOS CAN BE FOUND: In the form of sprayed coating as fire protection on beamsAs pipe laggingIn vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles and their backingAs insulating board on ceiling, window and door panelsIn cement roof sheetingIn textured coatings like artex | The majority of those affected today are former employees in industries such as shipbuilding and the railways. ASBESTOS CAN BE FOUND: In the form of sprayed coating as fire protection on beamsAs pipe laggingIn vinyl and thermoplastic floor tiles and their backingAs insulating board on ceiling, window and door panelsIn cement roof sheetingIn textured coatings like artex |
| The HSE says research suggests exposure kills on average six electricians, three plumbers and six joiners every week and it fears those numbers could grow in the future because of complacency. | The HSE says research suggests exposure kills on average six electricians, three plumbers and six joiners every week and it fears those numbers could grow in the future because of complacency. |
| It believes only one in 10 current tradesmen recognises the danger and is launching a campaign to raise awareness. | It believes only one in 10 current tradesmen recognises the danger and is launching a campaign to raise awareness. |
| Former carpenter Tom King, 65, from south east London, was diagnosed with mesothelioma - cancer of the lining of the lung - two years ago. | Former carpenter Tom King, 65, from south east London, was diagnosed with mesothelioma - cancer of the lining of the lung - two years ago. |
| He had cut and fitted asbestos boards as a trainee, before its dangers were known, and the illness forced him to retire. | He had cut and fitted asbestos boards as a trainee, before its dangers were known, and the illness forced him to retire. |
| But Mr King said young tradesmen were failing to heed the warnings. | But Mr King said young tradesmen were failing to heed the warnings. |
| "My son took over my business and the labourers who work for him are half-hearted about wearing a mask, even though they know what happened to me," he said. | "My son took over my business and the labourers who work for him are half-hearted about wearing a mask, even though they know what happened to me," he said. |
| "Some of them don't seem to have been taught that it's still in a lot of old buildings." | "Some of them don't seem to have been taught that it's still in a lot of old buildings." |
| 'Cruel disease' | 'Cruel disease' |
| HSE disease reduction programme director Steve Coldrick said: "We have a legacy of 500,000 commercial or industrial buildings in this country which still contain asbestos and the it is tradesmen who are at risk from it now. | HSE disease reduction programme director Steve Coldrick said: "We have a legacy of 500,000 commercial or industrial buildings in this country which still contain asbestos and the it is tradesmen who are at risk from it now. |
| "Unless we make them really understand the problems it can cause, in 20 or 50 years time we will have even more people dying." | "Unless we make them really understand the problems it can cause, in 20 or 50 years time we will have even more people dying." |
| Jill Morrell, from the British Lung Foundation said: "The asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma is a cruel disease which as yet has no cure. | Jill Morrell, from the British Lung Foundation said: "The asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma is a cruel disease which as yet has no cure. |
| "We must do all we can to prevent more people dying from this preventable disease" | "We must do all we can to prevent more people dying from this preventable disease" |
| Despite the warnings, the HSE stresses that asbestos which is sealed and in good condition rarely poses a risk unless it is disturbed. | Despite the warnings, the HSE stresses that asbestos which is sealed and in good condition rarely poses a risk unless it is disturbed. |