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British asbestos campaigners have launched a national survey exploring general awareness and understanding of asbestos in buildings and the regulations designed to protect UK workers from being exposed to asbestos in their workplace.
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British asbestos campaigners have launched a national survey exploring general awareness and understanding of asbestos in buildings and the regulations designed to protect UK workers from being exposed to asbestos in their workplace.
The survey can be taken here:
The survey has been developed in conjunction with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) the organisation that currently accredits over 100 asbestos inspection bodies to carry out asbestos surveys. Known as the Great British Asbestos in Buildings Survey 2011, the survey will be promoted across all industries via the UK's leading trade associations and trade unions, membership organisations and industry institutions. Tradesmen, building occupiers, dutyholders, clients, FM's, property managers of non-domestic buildings will be encouraged to take the survey.
According to the HSE, asbestos is responsible for an estimated 4000 deaths each year and is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. Results are expected to give an insight into awareness of the Duty to Manage Asbestos and highlight areas for raising awareness of the risks of asbestos in the workplace.
The Survey has the backing of high profile asbestos campaigners across the UK. Annette Brooke MP and Chair of the Asbestos in Schools Group welcomed the survey:
"This survey is a welcome step in the right direction. It is so vital that we highlight the dangers surrounding asbestos and I hope that participation in this survey is as wide as possible. "
John Richards, Managing Director of analytical and surveying firm, Thames Laboratories said:
"With recent public sector funding cuts and the Government's review of Health and Safety, we are concerned that this important subject maybe overlooked. Currently in the UK, more people are dying from asbestos exposure than in road accidents and yet our approach to asbestos still ranges from apathy to paranoia.
Recent conflicting reports produced from ATAC and HSE, and the issues of low level asbestos exposure, have led to the development of this research project, aimed at establishing what is really happening".
Jon Murthy, Marketing & Communications Manager at UKAS said:
"This is the first industry initiative of its kind in which UKAS has participated and we hope to see this repeated annually to measure what improvements are happening within the asbestos sector. UKAS will play its role by ensuring the questionnaire is circulated to as many individuals as possible, from all industry sectors, via Unions, Trade Associations, Industry Institutions and Membership Organisations".
The survey results will be published in a report in the summer 2011 via the campaign website www.asbestosinspectionbodies.co.uk and should highlight the issues arising from the most comprehensive review of the subject to date.
Notes to Editors:
About AIB
The AIB Campaign is a collaboration campaign aimed at promoting UKAS Accredited organisations who should be the first choice for companies who have to commission surveys for asbestos. The campaign was developed to further promote HSE's message that clients need to ensure they select competent organisations and that this can clearly be demonstrated by selecting UKAS accredited or certified surveyors for asbestos surveys.
The AIB collaboration project encourages subscribers to participate in 'comment and debate' sessions and participate via online promotion of best practice from their individual organisations via articles, press releases, news stories, videos and podcasts. Subscribe to the RSS Feed for regular industry updates: www.asbestosinspectionbodies.co.uk
For further information please visit www.asbestosinspectionbodies.co.uk
Press Enquiries:
AIB is managed by SMPR (Simply Marcomms Limited)
Further information can be requested through:
Kirstie Colledge - SMPR - B2B Online PR Solutions
18 Generator Hall, Electric Wharf, Coventry, CV1 4JL
Tel: 0870 199 4044, Email: kirstie@simplymarcomms.co.uk
©Copyright Simply Marcomms Ltd 2011
Contact Information
Kirstie Colledge
SMPR
18 Generator Hall
Electric Wharf
Coventry
CV1 4JL
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