Wildcat Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Ian Duncan Smith is cutting an award winning campaign that raised the dangers of asbestos with Construction Workers. Research has found that most construction workers, especially young workers, are not aware of the dangers of asbestos. There was also evidence that although workers were aware that asbestos was dangerous they did not know where it might be found or what it looked like. Over 2,000 people died of mesothelioma, the lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos, last year and death rates are continuing to rise. It is criminal that the Govt is ditching this campaign.... it will cost lives. http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=122235 This is unfortunately the tip of an iceburg, with cuts of 35% planned for the HSE and 28% from Council H&S .... http://www.hazards.org/votetodie/dangerouslies.htm The Government is being reckless with our safety. There are already 2 million people in the UK suffering from work related health problems. These cause a drain on the NHS and on our taxes.... But even without the economic arguments that recklessness with H&S costs us money..... this should not be happening anyway. I read this earlier from the parents of someone killed at work, it is well worth a read and a shocking account of the lack of justice they experienced. http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/fack/news/wrightvic.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magilla Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 It's a shame the previous government got it so wrong in the boom times that these measures are now required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mj.scuba Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Correct me if I'm wrong, but if construction workers are employed on sites where there may be asbestos, shouldn't the employer be responsible for ensuring that anybody that might come in to contact with it, is adequately trained and qualified to work in that environment, and has the correct PPE etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 Correct me if I'm wrong, but if construction workers are employed on sites where there may be asbestos, shouldn't the employer be responsible for ensuring that anybody that might come in to contact with it, is adequately trained and qualified to work in that environment, and has the correct PPE etc? They should be, yes, does it happen? Not always and not often enough judging by the research cited in the opening post. In many cases employer's are likely to either be ignorant themselves or argue that there is no need for a license or particular concerns because the work is in the very minor category. http://www.hazards.org/haz97/h97stopasbestos.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swan_Vesta Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 They couldn't give a hoot. We are just proles who are there to be governed and to ensure that we pay them as much money as possibe so that they can send their boorish, chinless children to Eton. I could happily watch them burn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Oh dear. Anyone who is involved in construction (which the OP isn't AFAIK) knows that asbestos risk is very tightly managed and there is no reason why a worker should be exposed to asbestos risk at all, ever. Linking current training to the deaths of people who contract asbestos related disease from unregulated activities many years ago is a pretty disgusting attempt at cheap political point scoring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 Oh dear. Anyone who is involved in construction (which the OP isn't AFAIK) knows that asbestos risk is very tightly managed and there is no reason why a worker should be exposed to asbestos risk at all, ever. Linking current training to the deaths of people who contract asbestos related disease from unregulated activities many years ago is a pretty disgusting attempt at cheap political point scoring. MOD Censured for failing to deal with Asbestos properly in 2005. http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-se-1309.htm Shipbreaker fined 2007 http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-yh-20210.htm Maritime industry criticised for exposing workers to asbestos: http://www.nautilusint.org/News-and-Events/Pages/article.aspx?newsid=137 10 schools given enforcement notices for failing to comply with asbestos safety regulations: http://www.teachers.org.uk/node/11964 Who is currently at risk? Heating and ventilation engineers, Demolition workers, Carpenters and joiners, Plumbers Roofing contractors, Painters and decorators, Plasterers, Construction workers, Fire and burglar alarm installers, Shop fitters, Gas fitters, Computer installers, General maintenance staff eg caretakers, Telecommunications engineers, Building surveyors, Cable layers, Electricians http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/risk.htm Ohh and not just worker's affected.... this person's wife died from handling her husband's contaminated clothes: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8413943.Asbestos_killed_shipbuilder_s_wife/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Which nicely demonstrates that you don't understand the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 Which nicely demonstrates that you don't understand the issue. How does me quoting facts demonstrate anything other than that your response so far is plain stupid? As for your earlier comment about tough regulations.... as I have shown various industry sectors disagree. Also as my opening post explained..the majority of Construction Workers don't know what asbestos looks like to know whether they are safe or not.... Precisely what the campaign was addressing. Here is the information being conveyed you seem to think unnecessary because of these tough regulations.... http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm You will note there are a whole range of unregulated tasks involving Asbestos workmen are supposed to be involved in... without a regulatory requirement for them to be trained. I must say I am glad I don't work for you, with your attitude I would be risking my life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obelix Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Mesothelioma has a lag time of something like 40 years - if death rates are starting to rise now it's in response to something that happened 40 years ago. To blame potential immediate rises when it's proven that there is such a lag time on the cutting back of awareness campaigns is just the sort of thing I'd expect you to do sadly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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