The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is targeting young workers in the construction industry in South and East Yorkshire in order to alert them to the dangers of exposure to asbestos.
As a result, the HSE and its industry partners have organised training courses in Sheffield, Doncaster, Hull, Beverley and Goole and will run from 20 March to 2 April. The courses are designed to reinforce the importance of asbestos awareness training. It is a legal requirement that anyone employed to work on any type of construction or refurbishment project must be provided with the training.
HSE Inspector Medani Close, who specialises in the construction industry for the HSE in South and East Yorkshire, said, "Many young tradespeople believe that because asbestos is no longer used in building work, it no longer poses a threat to them. But that simply is not true and is a potentially dangerous assumption to make. Asbestos was widely used in domestic, commercial and industrial premises for decades before it became illegal, and its presence is still widespread - and will be for many years to come."
Medani continued, "Asbestos awareness training will help people in the building trades to recognise asbestos, understand its dangers and educate them about the steps that they can take to protect themselves."
The courses cost £10 or £20 for a firm with more than 16 employees and are accredited by the UK Asbestos Training Association. The dates of the training are:
For further information about the courses, contact Jan Foers, HSE event co-ordinator, on 07786 190938, or Mark Atkinson at Clugstons, mark.atkinson@clugston.co.uk.
For more information, see the:
