Third of Construction Workers Encounter Abestos Every Week

THIS WEEK IS Global Asbestos Awareness Week (1st-7th April) and research shows that 32% of UK construction workers encounter asbestos every single week.

ElectricalDirect conducted a nationwide survey of tradespeople to see how often they encounter asbestos, and the impact this has on their health.

Roofers were in the top three trades most likely to encounter asbestos (79%), following only bricklayers (88%) and carpenters (95%).

The study found that 79% of trades workers in construction have come across asbestos – the fibre-like material once used for insulation – in their working lives.

Additionally, 45% said they have had symptoms of an asbestos-related disease or know a colleague who has.

Tradespeople are amongst the most at-risk workers of asbestos-related diseases. Three in five (60%) find it every year; over a third (35%) say every month, and one in 12 (8%) come face to face with asbestos every day.

One in 20 (5%) know someone who has died of such a condition, and every week 20 tradespeople deaths are attributed to asbestos.

The trades that are most likely to encounter asbestos are:

#	Trade	% That have encountered asbestos at work
1	Carpenter	95%
2	Bricklayer	88%
3	Roofer	79%
4	Building surveyor	79%
5	Plumber	79%
6	Electrician	78%
7	Scaffolder	78%
8	Joiner	74%
9	Painter decorator	63%
10	Plasterer	62%

Indentifying Asbestosis

It’s important that tradespeople know the warning signs of the diseases, and consult a doctor straight away if any appear. Dr Rhianna McClymont, Lead GP at Livi, the digital healthcare provider, says that asbestosis causes a range of symptoms, including:

Persistent cough
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Pain in the chest or shoulder
Tiredness
Swollen or ‘clubbed’ fingertips

However, ElectricalDirect’s research found that the majority of UK tradespeople are unaware of these symptoms. When asked to identify the signs of asbestosis, almost two-thirds (64%) failed to select a persistent cough, and over half (55%) didn’t pick out shortness of breath.

Dr Rhianna explains more about the condition:

What is abestosis?

“Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by breathing in large amounts of asbestos dust for a long time. The asbestos gets lodged in the lungs causing scarring around the air sacs (alveoli), which means oxygen can’t reach the bloodstream easily. The scarring leads to the lungs hardening, making it more difficult to breathe because the lungs cannot hold as much air as they used to.”

What causes it?

“The condition is caused by long-term exposure to asbestos, a material used in the past for cement, insulation, car parts, and some roof and floor tiles. The fibres in asbestos break down into little pieces when they’re damaged, released into the air and then breathed in. These fibres get stuck in the lungs, and over a long time, can cause permanent lung damage.”

Asbestos Awareness

Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at ElectricalDirect, said: “Despite being banned in the UK in 1999, asbestos is a still a real issue in the industry, and it’s awful that so many tradespeople die from related diseases every year.

“Some people might not experience symptoms for decades after their exposure to the material, so it’s important that individuals remain vigilant, and see a doctor immediately if they spot any signs.”

Asbestos cement is found as: