Asbestos-related illnesses are responsible for the deaths of 20 trades people each week, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) supported two events in Powys to highlight the dangers of "the hidden killer" to construction workers from across mid Wales.
The Working Well Together (WWT) group, made up of representatives from construction businesses and local authorities, held the events in Newtown and Brecon, which included presentations on a range of other construction issues such as working at height and risk assessments.
Construction is the country's biggest employment sector, but is also one of the most dangerous with 77 fatalities in Great Britain in 2006/07, five of which were in Wales. In Wales there were also a total of 652 injuries classed as major or requiring more than three days off work.
These events are aimed at helping to reduce the number of fatal and serious incidents in construction.
HSE Principal Inspector for Construction, Chantal Nicholls said: "Safety related incidents can cost businesses money and result in projects being delayed, and yet many incidents we investigate could have been avoided had safe systems of work been in place.
'These events provide practical advice in an informal setting."
HSE has also recently launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the dangers faced by those working in construction-related trades from asbestos, which can lead to the development of mesothelioma and other terminal asbestos-related diseases many years later.
"The number of deaths from asbestos related illness is increasing year-on-year. We need to educate tradesmen and those working in construction about how asbestos and its dangers are relevant to them.
"With over 500,000 non-domestic buildings in the UK containing asbestos it still presents a real risk to tradesmen." Chantal Nicholls added.
(JM)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
21/11/2024
Europe's leading online cleanroom consumables supplier, Cleanroomshop, has recently launched a brand-new website, giving its users an improved user experience. The new website continues to offer over 2,000 products from more than 40 brands, whilst incorporating a new look and more efficient ...
21/11/2024
At Ecomerchant, we offer a carefully curated selection of sustainable weatherproofing solutions, including natural lime renders, mineral finishes, and vapour-open waterproofing materials. They help prevent structural damage while ensuring your building can breathe naturally. Our eco-friendly ...
20/11/2024
Construction firm Willmott Dixon has partnered with Westminster City Council on a £36 million project to restore the historic Seymour Centre in Marylebone, a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1930s. The project, procured through the SCF framework, will see the three-storey centre undergo ...
20/11/2024
The Hill Group has commenced work on a new development in Billericay, Essex, which will deliver 179 high-quality homes across a 20-acre site. Designed to blend with Billericay's scenic countryside while addressing the pressing demand for sustainable housing, the project is located on Kennel Lane ...
20/11/2024
Extensive groundwork is underway for a new housing development in Maidstone, where Vistry Group, in partnership with Legal & General Affordable Homes, is set to build 272 properties on the site of the former Tovil Quarry off Farleigh Hill. The project will include 37 affordable homes for low-cost ...
20/11/2024
Stonewater has scooped a new energy efficiency retrofit contract with compliance and energy services provider Correct Contract Services. This work, funded through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2, will include a range of energy-saving upgrades. Measures such as loft ...
20/11/2024
Kier has been appointed by Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver building, mechanical, and electrical maintenance services across the Council's portfolio of 160 corporate buildings. The contract, which began in November 2024, will run until 2027, with the possibility of two one-year extensions ...
20/11/2024
Builders use water for various functions on the job, they utilise this resource for worker hygiene, hydration, concrete batching, grouting, dust suppression, drilling and piling. If companies mismanage this water use, they can increase their environmental impact. When the industry comes ...
20/11/2024
Edmond Shipway has been appointed to a pioneering initiative tackling homelessness in Greater Manchester, providing project management and cost consultancy services on the second phase of Embassy Village. Set to deliver 40 purpose-built homes for men facing homelessness in Manchester, Embassy ...
20/11/2024
West Sussex County Council is inviting residents to share their views on proposed transport improvements at the Hazelwick and Tushmore junctions on the A2011 Crawley Avenue. The proposals aim to make walking, cycling, and public transport more appealing for short journeys. This initiative is part ...