Be aware of asbestos dangers

11:29am Saturday 22nd March 2008

THE British Lung Foundation is warning that many trades-people are unaware of the health risks they face in dealing with asbestos - currently the main cause of work-related ill health.

People who carry out any work on asbestos materials must be trained and supervised properly.

BCOT has responded with a one-day course in asbestos awareness.

This course is designed to provide employers, building managers and those responsible for health and safety with an understanding and appreciation of the legal and practical requirements to protect themselves, their employees and visitors from the risks associated with asbestos.

It is estimated that up to 500,000 non-domestic buildings in the UK contain some form of asbestos and up to 4,000 people die each year as a result of asbestos exposure.

Dame Helena Shovelton, British Lung Foundation chief executive, said: "We want this to become a disease of the past, but until people put their health first and protect themselves against asbestos, that goal can't be reached."

This one-day course is offered on a flexible basis.

Topics include asbestos types, properties and risks, the effects of asbestos on workers' health, procedures to deal with accidental exposure to asbestos, uses and likely occurrences of asbestos identification and location of asbestos in buildings, control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, licensable work and notification requirements, asbestos risk assessments and site clearance and certification.

For further details or to enrol, call 01256 306237 or e-mail business@bcot.ac.uk

For a full list of all courses available, visit the website www.bcot.ac.uk/business

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