The campaign’s objective is to remind people working in construction trades to manage the risks associated with asbestos.

Every trade person in the UK is likely to have undertaken work in a building that contains asbestos at some point. Asbestos can be found in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000, as such houses built in the fifties, sixties and seventies are very likely to include asbestos.

The importation, supply and use of asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999. Despite the awareness of the risks associated with asbestos, shockingly around 5000 people a year die from past exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is not visible therefore you cannot see, smell or feel the fibres in the air or on your clothes. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asbestosis once it has developed.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) aims to raise awareness to those most at risk and reach those who started their careers from 2000, after the use of asbestos was banned, so they understand the risk of asbestos exposure remains.

The HSE has produced a guide, detailing areas in properties where asbestos is likely to be found, practical steps to be taken before starting a job and precautions needed whilst undertaking the work. The guide also details what to do if asbestos is disturbed and the necessary training required to work with asbestos. In addition, the HSE has produced detailed asbestos worksheets, ranging from appropriate equipment to the removal and replacement of asbestos-containing materials. Both the guide and the worksheets can be found here on the campaign page.

Recognising the risks and seriousness of the failure to manage asbestos, we regularly see the HSE bring prosecutions against organisations relating to exposure to asbestos. By way of an example, Eddie Stobart was fined £133,000 following an incident where work at one of its sites exposed staff to asbestos. See more details here.

Those with ownership, control and management of buildings must ensure they understand their obligations in respect of asbestos for those buildings. Organisations whose staff conduct maintenance and construction work on buildings that could contain asbestos must also ensure they understand their responsibilities and obligations.

If you would like advice in respect of your obligations surrounding asbestos, please do not hesitate to contact the Anthony Collins regulatory team.