Christmas is a time when we need to think of others and the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) would like to urge everyone from builders to school teachers to have a happy and healthy New Year by being aware of the danger of deadly asbestos still in our midst.

Recent stories have raised fears that the message on this killer substance is not getting through. WWII gas masks containing asbestos being shown to school children is a worry, people should be more concerned by the fact that 75 per cent of school buildings may still contain asbestos.

Asbestos will not pose an immediate risk unless disturbed, but teachers need to be aware that stapling or nailing work to walls could release the deadly dust. Builders need to know there are no shortcuts when it comes to safe asbestos removal and appropriate training is essential.

Diseases relating to asbestos can take 20 years to develop and there is no cure. Over 4,500 people die every year as a result of breathing in asbestos fibres and this hidden killer remains the biggest single cause of work related deaths in the UK. More than 140 teachers have died from mesothelioma (a cancer caused by asbestos exposure) in the last 10 years, plus an unknown number of cleaners, dinner ladies and in some cases workers who have unwittingly taken on the job of removal without adequate training.

The Health and Safety Executive launches a new initiative highlighting the danger of asbestos in the New Year and it’s something we all need to be aware of. If you have any doubts or concerns, contact the Health and Safety Executive. The UKATA website www.ukata.org.uk and the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos are also good sources of advice.

We hope everyone has a happy Christmas holiday, and a safe, asbestos-free New Year.

David Nichol, UKATA Vice Chairman.