Asbestos experts have urged the Department for Education to add mandatory asbestos training to the curriculum for apprenticeships.
The current requirements are for tradespeople to learn about asbestos at work, but 46% of tradespeople claim this is insufficient
5,000 people per year in the UK die from asbestos-related illnesses, making it the largest workplace killer
24 November 2024 marked 25 years since all forms of asbestos were banned in the UK, but despite a quarter of a century passing, asbestos remains a significant threat, with around 5,000 people per year in the UK dying from asbestos-related conditions1.
In light of the anniversary and to raise awareness around its pressing dangers, leading online training provider High Speed Training, conducted a study to understand the levels of knowledge around asbestos and its dangers amongst tradespeople and the general public.
The research revealed a dangerous lack of understanding of the risks of asbestos amongst tradespeople, ambivalence towards the dangers, and a willingness to ignore potentially life saving handling procedures in order to save time.
The research also found that the majority of tradespeople (53%) had a negative perception of the asbestos training that they received. One in five (20%) felt the training wasn’t authoritative, whilst 19% thought the training was outdated, and 11% claimed it felt like a tick box exercise. Shockingly, one in 10 (11%) have never received any form of asbestos training.
Tradespeople were also found to be supportive of increased asbestos training, with 70% agreeing that asbestos awareness training should be a mandatory component of the college or apprenticeship curriculum, and nearly three quarters (74%) said there should be increased awareness of the dangers of asbestos in their industry about the potential impact on families, colleagues, customers and the general public.
In light of these findings, asbestos authorities have come together to call upon the government to make asbestos awareness training a mandatory requirement for those entering the trades.
The open letter, signed by asbestos authorities and charities, calls for asbestos training to be incorporated into the curriculums of trades courses at college, as well as apprenticeships.
The requests include:
– Incorporating specific modules on asbestos, including its use, where it is commonly found, and how to identify potential exposure situations.
– Practical training on correct practice, including the safe identification, removal and disposal techniques, and the correct PPE needed to safely handle asbestos.
– Awareness of long-term health risks, for themselves, their families and the general public.
The aim of the open letter is to improve the understanding and awareness of asbestos and the dangers associated with it, to reduce the impact of the material on future generations of tradespeople, as well as their families and the general public.
Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at asbestos training provider High Speed Training, says: “A quarter of a century after all forms of asbestos were banned in the UK, and 100 years since the first recorded death, asbestos remains a deadly problem that shows no signs of being solved.
“As older buildings built using asbestos deteriorate and are demolished, exposure to asbestos will only continue to become more of a problem for tradespeople, their families, and the general public. It is vital that future generations are properly equipped with the knowledge to protect themselves and others from the dangers of this deadly material.
“We call upon the government to expand the training requirements around asbestos for those seeking to enter the trades, helping to reduce exposure to asbestos, and prevent further increases to deadly conditions such as Mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis, that already claim upwards of 5,000 UK lives per year. This is a public interest issue, and a problem that will not be solved by choosing to ignore it. Action must be taken to save lives.”
To find out more about the campaign, including case studies from those impacted by asbestos, please visit: https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/campaign/asbestos-knowledge-base/
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