Source: HSE
The Beware Asbestos campaign, which was launched on 9 October and will run until March 2015, aims to encourage safe working practices among those workers most at risk from asbestos, ie tradespeople working on small sites and project in the construction and maintenance industries.
Research has shown that these workers recognise that asbestos is dangerous. However, they often do not realise when a job might expose them to asbestos and do not know what to do to protect themselves from the danger.
To raise awareness of the issue and help encourage safer working practices, HSE has teamed up with TradePoint, the trade-only outlet of B&Q, to distribute free asbestos safety kits directly to tradespeople in GB.
The kits include simple information to help tradespeople identify where they could come into contact with asbestos and how they can stay safe. They also include a free pair of Type 5 disposable overalls to support safer working with asbestos.
Another key feature of the campaign is the introduction of a new
web app that helps tradespeople easily identify where they could come into contact with asbestos and gives them tailored help on how to deal with the risks.