The FMB has today added its support to the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) campaign "Asbestos: The hidden killer". The hidden killer campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of working with asbestos and encourage tradesmen to brush up on their knowledge and training.
Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB said:
"We welcome the HSE's hidden killer campaign. Each year 20 tradesmen die as a result of working with asbestos so anything that can be done to encourage more training is great. It is a typical FMB member who is most at risk from asbestos mainly because they don't think they will be; tradesmen tend to think asbestos is only a problem for people working in very old commercial buildings but the truth is any building built or refurbished before 2000 could well have asbestos in it somewhere."
Berry continued:
"The FMB recognises that young workers are particularly at risk because they don't always recognise asbestos which is why training is so important. As the largest trade association in the construction industry, representing 13,000 small to medium sized building firms, the FMB regularly runs training courses on the dangers of working with asbestos for its members. We are encouraging all FMB members to attend an asbestos workshop, to make sure they fully understand the potential dangers of working with asbestos."
Berry concluded:
"The most important message is if you're not sure whether you could be exposed to asbestos ask your employer or the client and if there does turn out to be risk of it being present do not continue working until you have had full training to enable you to work with it safely. After all your health is of the utmost importance."
23 October 2008
