With tomorrow marking International Workers’ Memorial Day, Thompsons Solicitors has published a message asking workers to be safe with hazardous materials
Asbestos, silica dust, and other hazardous substances or practices lead to industrial diseases such as lung disease, skin illnesses, or Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
Statistics from HSE show that there are currently 1.9m workers in the UK suffering from a work-related illness.
These diseases are preventable if safety measures are implemented
Furthermore, the HSE shows that there are still around 5,000 deaths per year from asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, and 11,000 lung disease deaths per year are estimated to be linked to past exposure at work.
As mentioned by the Hazards Campaign, the above figures are just the reported ones, as it is possible that there are a great deal more going unreported.
Phil Liptrot, Head of Personal Injury at Thompsons, said: “Too often we see the consequences of avoidable failures by employers. These are tragedies that should never have happened – they are the result of basic safety measures being ignored by employers.
“Health and safety is not red tape – it is a fundamental right. No one should pay for their job with their health or their life. These deaths and illnesses are preventable.”
Asbestos is still worryingly prevalent
In March, two companies and a site manager were handed sentences, including hefty fines and a jail sentence, for exposing the public to more than 200m2 of asbestos.
Sohan Group Limited was fined £74,900, with £3,658.14 in costs and a statutory surcharge of £2,000, while Maize Metals Limited was fined £13,400 with £1,359.51 in costs and a statutory surcharge of £2,000.
The site manager, Ali Raza Baig, was given a 26 weeks’ imprisonment sentence, suspended for two years, and must spend three months in an electronically monitored curfew between 19:00 and 7:00. A director disqualification order was also made under Section 2(1) of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 for five years, and if breached, Mr Baig will face a further two years imprisonment. He was also required to pay £5,899 in costs and a statutory surcharge of £154.
At the time, HSE inspector Rob Gidman said: “Asbestos is a Class 1 carcinogen which is known to kill around 20 tradespeople each week due to past exposure. By failing to ensure the demolition was properly planned and managed, considering the presence of asbestos on site, these companies and Mr Baig put workers and members of the public at risk of being exposed to a substance known to cause fatal lung disease.
“This case should serve as a reminder to those engaged in demolition and refurbishment work that they have responsibilities when it comes to managing the risks associated with asbestos.”
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