Asbestos killing us says gran
A Wigan gran who lost her husband to asbestosis has backed safety watchdog warnings that the killer disease is far from history.
Health and Safety Executive figures show that there were 86 deaths in Wigan from the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma between 1981 and 2000 and the indication is that the rate has increased since then.
With the controversial fire retardant still present in many older buildings, tradesmen, in particular, are still at risk.
Across the North West 2,431 people died from the disease between 1981 and 2000.
In more recent years, the death rate in the region has risen to 62 fatalities per million men and 11 per million women in 2003, compared with 23 per million men and four per million women in 1983.
The death rate is increasing because of the delay between initial exposure to asbestos and death from mesothelioma – typically between 30 and 40 years.
Nationally, it is estimated 20 tradesmen die every week from asbestos-related diseases and experts say it only takes one fibre to embed in the lung for the slow but fatal process to begin.
Tom Catterall, from Beech Hill, died almost five years ago after working alongside asbestos at two different workplaces.
The illness killed him within four months of being diagnosed.
Since then his widow Marjorie has been a key figure in the Mesothelioma Action Group.
She said: "It is a long time now since asbestos was proved to be a killer but the nature of mesothelioma and the fact that there is still this terrible substance in so many buildings means that we cannot drop our guard.
Click next page for more ..."I would not want anyone else to go through what Tom went through. Within a matter of weeks he went from a healthy man to someone who looked like he had come out of Belsen. He just lost all his appetite.
"Workmen today should be taking all possible precautions to avoid contamination. It's a killer once you've been diagnosed."
The HSE revealed the figures as part of its Asbestos: The Hidden Killer campaign which aims to reduce the rising death rate by educating today's tradesmen about the dangers. Asbestos presents a real risk to plumbers, joiners, electricians and many other maintenance workers.
Asbestos may be present in any building constructed or refurbished before 2000 and it is estimated that around 500,000 non-domestic buildings could contain asbestos.
The campaign is being supported by Alan Manning, regional Secretary of the TUC, who said: "These are not just statistics, they are all stories of pain, hardship and bereavement that could have and should have been prevented.
"It is essential that workers are fully aware of the dangers and of the safest way to work.
"Employers and contractors also need to recognise their obligations to provide safe working conditions.
"Asbestos may no longer be in use, but even those starting out in their careers in industry might encounter it as they refurbish, repair and refit ageing buildings. I urge those young people to wear face-masks and protective clothing from their first day on site."
To get a free asbestos information pack call 0845 345 0055 or visit www.hse.gov.uk/hiddenkiller. It highlights where asbestos-containing materials may be present in buildings, what they look like and how they should be dealt with.
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Weather for Wigan
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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