Personal injury news

New tradesmen made aware of asbestos dangers

Students at Telford College in Scotland are being warned about the dangers of asbestos as part of a new awareness campaign.

The students training to become plumbers, carpenters and builders were made aware of the high number of asbestosis claims made from people in their trade each year.

The campaign, led by the Heath and Safety Executive, believes that trainees could be at risk from drilling into or cutting materials without realising it contains asbestos.

Dr Martin Gibson, a principle inspector for the HSE, said, "While current deaths are due to asbestos exposure that happened many years ago, we need to make today's workers aware that they are at risk. This campaign focuses on how important it is for those working with asbestos not to gamble with their lives."

The awareness campaign could reduce the number of possible asbestosis claims made in the future.