STUDY FINDS IGNORANCE OF ASBESTOS RISK
February 27th, 2008 by HinchliffesA British Lung Foundation study has found that trades people and factory workers could be inadvertently putting themselves at risk of asbestos related conditions.
The study spoke to 399 trades people (such as builders, plumbers, carpenters, electricians and gas fitters) of varying ages. Less than a third of them were aware that asbestos exposure can cause cancer, and a similar number thought that most asbestos has been removed from UK buildings. In addition 74% of those surveyed had not been trained to deal with asbestos.
Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said:
“It is a great worry that those most at risk know so little about it.”
“We want mesothelioma to become a disease of the past, but until people become asbestosis aware and protect themselves against asbestos that goal can’t be reached.”
