What's new at HSE » Asbestos

The Hidden Killer - Chris Morgan’s story

HSE — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:27:19 +0000

Christopher Morgan used to work as a pipe fitter when he came into contact with asbestos - he now has mesothelioma an incurable cancer caused by exposure to the deadly fibres.

In this video, he tells his story.

View Chris Morgan’s story

Asbestos: The Hidden Killer - Chris Morgan’s Story

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:57 +0000

Christopher Morgan has mesothelioma - an incurable cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. He was working as a pipe fitter when he came into contact with the deadly fibres.

In these videos, he and his partner Jean tell their stories.

View the long version of the video

View the short version of the video

Edinburgh council fined £14,000 for asbestos failures that put workers at risk

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:28 +0000

Edinburgh Council has today (11 November) been fined £14,000 after 14 of its employees, were potentially exposed to asbestos while carrying out refurbishment work.

The workers, including joiners, had been instructed to remove laboratory doors from Castlebrae Community High School back in April 2007 and carry out alterations at the council’s workshop on Murrayburn Road.

View press release ‘Edinburgh council fined £14,000 for asbestos failures that put workers at risk’

Review of occupational hygiene reports on suitability of RPE

HSE — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:40:07 +0000

This report provides an evidence-base for factors influencing the use (or non-use) of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) in the workplace and on how well RPE programmes are currently implemented.

Although the remit was RPE, the study adopted a wider remit of personal protective equipment (PPE), on the basis that, although there will be equipment specific issues, the underlying principles influencing the use of any PPE will be essentially the same as those specifically relating to RPE.

View full research report ‘RR746 - Review of occupational hygiene reports on suitability of RPE’

Asbestos: The Hidden Killer - HSE Podcast

HSE — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:59:06 +0000

In this episode: HSE’s Steve Coldrick talks about the Asbestos - the Hidden Killer campaign. Latest news: Sugar giant Tate and Lyle fined, schoolgirl loses 6 fingers and both thumbs, landlords being reminded of their gas safety responsibilities to tenants…

Asbestos: The Hidden Killer podcast - Download or listen online

Asbestos dangers on timetable for trainee tradesmen in Aberdeen

HSE — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:17 +0000

The dangers of asbestos were on the timetable for trainee tradesmen at Aberdeen College this week with a special session led by an expert from HSE.

The visit to Aberdeen was one date in a college tour across Britain as part of HSE’s ‘Asbestos: The hidden killer’ campaign which launched earlier this month.

View press release ‘Asbestos dangers on timetable for trainee tradesmen in Aberdeen’

Hidden killer message taken to key trade show

HSE — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:27 +0000

The dangers of asbestos will be amongst the workplace hazards and health issues under the spotlight at the National Painting and Decoration Show in Coventry next week (11-12 November).

HSE is hosting a stand at the Ricoh Arena event to promote its month-long ‘Asbestos: The hidden killer’ campaign, which urges tradesmen to protect themselves from breathing in the deadly fibres which they may disturb through renovation projects.

View press release ‘Hidden killer message taken to key trade show’

Managing asbestos in social housing event

HSE — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:09 +0000

23 November 2009 in London - arranged to provide guidance to social landlords including local authorities, housing associations and social housing management companies who may commission asbestos removal work.

View full details of managing asbestos in social housing event

Hidden killer warning for tradesmen in Scotland

HSE — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:02:47 +0000

Tradesmen across Scotland are the target of a new national campaign warning them to beware of a hidden killer - asbestos. A total of 2617 of Scottish men died from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by breathing in the deadly fibres.

View press release ‘Hidden killer warning for tradesmen in Scotland’

Britain’s biggest workplace killer - death toll tops 35,000

HSE — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:57:13 +0000

A new generation of workers are at risk unless building trades get to grips with Britain’s biggest workplace killer - asbestos, safety campaigners warned today.

View press release ‘Warning on Britain’s biggest workplace killer as death toll tops 35,000′

27th meeting of the Asbestos Liaison Group - 3 November 2009

HSE — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:55:44 +0000

The agenda has been published for the 27th meeting of the Asbestos Liaison Group, 3 November 2009

The meeting will be held at National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) Resurgam House, Paradise, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP2 4TF

View agenda for the 27th meeting of the Asbestos Liaison Group

Podcast - Asbestos: The Hidden Killer

HSE — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:11 +0000

In the October podcast, HSE’s Steve Coldrick talks about the Asbestos - the Hidden Killer campaign.
Latest news: Sugar giant Tate and Lyle fined more than a quarter of a million pounds, A sixteen year old schoolgirl lost 6 fingers and both her thumbs at school. Landlords are being reminded of their gas safety responsibilities to tenants after a landlord was jailed for 16 months.

Listen to October 2009 Podcast - Asbestos: The Hidden Killer

Construction Infonet - October 2009

HSE — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:30:19 +0000

Construction Infonet is a free e-Bulletin from HSE to provide a regular update on health and safety issues for all in the construction industry. In this issue; Asbestos Hidden Killer Campaign, information for migrant workers, Gas Safe Register…

View the October issue of Construction Infonet

Companies fined after workers exposed to asbestos

HSE — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:30:05 +0000

Two businesses and a company director have been fined after workers in Manchester were exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fibres.

The prosecution by HSE comes just days before the launch of a national £1.2 million campaign to increase awareness about asbestos among tradespeople.

View press release companies fined after workers exposed to asbestos

HSE Chief Executive responds to Christopher Booker’s comments in the Daily Telegraph

HSE — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:45:44 +0000

HSE Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger’s response to Christopher Booker’s comments in The Daily Telegraph“Christopher Booker is closer to agreeing with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) about asbestos than your readers - or he - might realise…”

View full response to ‘Christopher Booker is closer to agreeing with the HSE about asbestos’…

Signage on Decontamination Unit Doors

HSE — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:37 +0000

Draft paper prepared by ARCA for consideration and discussion at ALG Meeting, 3 November 2009. A Decontamination Unit (DCU) used for asbestos removal works is a potentially contaminated facility, acknowledged by the requirement for it to be air tested prior to removal from a site where it has been used in the decontamination process. Despite strict decontamination procedures, there may be a residual risk such that employees and others need to be warned.

View ‘Signage on Decontamination Unit Doors’ draft paper

Asbestos

HSE — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:30:26 +0000

Coming soon - Hidden Killer campaign launches 2 November 2009.

Campaign starts soon - find out more

Two Enfield firms fined after unlicenced asbestos removal

HSE — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:59:56 +0000

Two companies have been prosecuted after workers and members of the public were exposed to unacceptable levels of asbestos during a removal project.

View press release

Coming soon: Asbestos - Hidden Killer campaign

HSE — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:40:42 +0000

Starts 2 November 2009 - helping tradesmen and maintenance workers know when they might be working with asbestos.

Coming soon: Asbestos: Hidden Killer campaign

Safety regulator disappointed by ‘killer’ advert ruling

HSE — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:47:45 +0000

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today expressed its deep disappointment at a decision by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to uphold a complaint about its ‘Asbestos: The hidden killer’ awareness campaign.

The ASA has upheld one complaint from a single source challenging HSE on the numbers of workers it quoted as dying as a result of exposure to asbestos fibres.

Read Safety regulator disappointed by ‘killer’ advert ruling press release in full