In the United Kingdom (the U.K.; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently acknowledged that more people are dying from asbestos related diseases than in traffic accidents each year.

More Than 4,000 Deaths Per Year Due to Asbestos

The HSE, a government agency similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S., stated that asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis are the cause of death for 20 construction workers each week in the U.K., and more than 4,000 people a year.

Nationwide “Asbestos: The Killer” Campaign

According to the HSE, about a quarter of the asbestos related deaths each year are in professions such as:

• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Joiners

The HSE has thus launched a campaign across the U.K. to highlight the asbestos risks faced by construction workers. The “Asbestos: The Killer” campaign is affiliate with the British Lung Foundation.

Few Construction Workers Aware of the Asbestos Risk

The Lung Foundation’s spokeswoman, Jill Morrell, explained that “The HSE campaign is vital because research shows that only one in ten tradesmen know that exposure to asbestos can prove fatal.” The HSE has found that although the rates of asbestos caused deaths among other-than-construction industries have plateaued, the corresponding rate within the construction industry continues to rise in the U.K.

The HSE’s disease-reduction director, Steve Coldrick, revealed that “Exposure to asbestos is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths.” The HSE figures show that about a half-million non-residential buildings in the U.K. may contain asbestos. These data do not include the millions of private residences in the U.K. — single-family homes, flats and apartments, etc. — that probably contain dangerous levels of asbestos. Renovations and demolitions of such structures may expose workers and residents to airborne asbestos.

(Source: Environmental Expert)

Asbestos Victims Have Legal Recourse

If an asbestos disease has stricken you or your loved one, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Contact mesothelioma centers today to speak with a qualified asbestos attorney who will protect and advance your legal rights.