Thompsons’ head of asbestos, Amanda Jones, is calling for increased efforts to identify the presence of asbestos in public buildings and safely remove it. This follows recent research indicating that awareness of the current dangers of asbestos remains low despite its potentially deadly effects on people's health, particularly among tradespeople who believe it’s an issue of the past.
The survey of 500 tradespeople was conducted by High-Speed Training in September. It found that 49% of tradespeople thought asbestos was no longer a concern. Half of the respondents said their worry about asbestos had declined the longer they spent in their trade. 26% of respondents admitted to not following the correct procedures when handling asbestos, citing cost and pressure from supervisors as key reasons for non-compliance.
The research also highlighted a lack of public awareness, with 70% of surveyed members of the public stating they had never been concerned about asbestos at home or work.
Mesothelioma UK, High-Speed Training, and the Independent Asbestos Training Providers (IATP) have called on the government to make asbestos awareness training compulsory for the next generation of tradespeople. In an open letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, they urged the Department for Education to integrate asbestos awareness into trade education, ensuring future workers know to protect themselves and others.
Amanda Jones, National Head of Asbestos at Thompsons said: “This research shows that asbestos remains a huge risk, yet awareness is low. We see first-hand the devastating impact that asbestos exposure has on individuals and their families. No one should have to suffer from an entirely preventable disease because they weren’t given the right training or protection. We must act now to prioritise asbestos awareness and ensure those most at risk are properly informed.”
Amanda has been advocating for improved asbestos safety measures, including speaking at the House of Commons last year to highlight the urgent need to remove asbestos from public buildings safely.
Despite being banned for nearly 25 years, asbestos remains present in an estimated 1.5 million buildings across the UK, including many schools and hospitals.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that asbestos exposure remains the leading cause of workplace deaths, responsible for around 5,000 deaths annually. When disturbed, asbestos releases invisible fibres that, when inhaled, can lead to fatal diseases such as mesothelioma decades later.
At Thompsons, we’ve spent decades fighting for people affected by asbestos, securing compensation for workers and their families. We’ve represented thousands of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other conditions caused by asbestos exposure, ensuring they get the justice, treatment and financial support they deserve. We also campaign for stronger workplace protections and support efforts to raise awareness of the ongoing risks asbestos poses.
More details on the results of the survey can be found here.