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12/03/2007
RHODAR LAUNCHES NATIONAL ASBESTOS AWARENESS WEEK
And urges companies to wise up to the UK’s biggest occupational killer
Businesses in the UK could be faced with legal bills of up to £20 billion over the next 30 years because of general lack of awareness on how to manage asbestos safely and effectively.
According to leading asbestos removal company, Rhodar – which is pioneering a nationwide Wise Up to Asbestos campaign launched with a dedicated awareness week on 23 to 27 April 2007 – an estimated two million commercial and industrial buildings across the country still contain asbestos.
This puts thousands of public and private sector workers at risk to the nations’ biggest occupational killer. Indeed diseases resulting from asbestos exposure including the cancers mesothelioma and asbestosis, which both damage the lining of the lungs, are expected to peak in the next 30 years with at least 150,000 UK citizens dying from such illnesses.
The campaign is endorsed by key industry body ARCA (the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association). It will highlight both the occupational and commercial risks businesses face if asbestos isn’t properly managed, especially in light of the new changes to the Control of Asbestos Regulations which are still causing confusion after coming into force three months ago.
Terry Jago, ARCA chief executive, states: “It is good to see companies such as Rhodar take the lead in driving awareness of this serious issue. We hope this campaign will give industry the confidence and skills to manage asbestos effectively to prevent further cost not only to businesses but to people’s lives.”
Jason Davy, managing director at Rhodar, comments: “We decided its time to take action. Our Wise Up to Asbestos campaign is aimed at highlighting the risks surrounding asbestos and offering best practise advice to industry on how to manage buildings properly.”
Jason adds: “It is vital we gauge the current attitudes of those who have the responsibility of controlling asbestos, whether it’s what the new regulations mean to how to put in place an effective management plan. This ensures we address people’s core concerns, providing the information they really want.
Rhodar is producing a free, easy to understand, educational Guide which will be launched during National Asbestos Awareness Week. It will give those responsible for the control of asbestos in their workplace the proper guidelines and advice on how to tackle it safely and effectively.
To ensure it is covering the key issues, Rhodar has set up a dedicated email address – wiseuptoasbestos@rhodar.co.uk – encouraging facilities and estates managers, building owners and construction workers to voice their questions, concerns and general opinions on the control of asbestos, in particular the impact of the new regulation changes.
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