1 April 2016 saw the launch of Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW). This was a worldwide campaign run by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organisation. It aimed to raise awareness of the risks associated with asbestos and encourage more countries to ban its use – something we fully support.
Asbestos is banned in 55 countries across the world, but it is still being mined, imported and used in both developing and developed countries. And although the UK is among the nations to have banned asbestos, Procol often encounter the material within the buildings we work on.
An individual can become exposed to asbestos if it is disturbed as this releases small fibres into the air. If breathed in, these fibres become trapped in the lungs and, over time, can cause devastating health issues.
The most common problems associated with asbestos exposure include mesothelioma (a cancer which effects the lining of the lungs and the lower digestive tract), asbestosis (a serious scarring of the lungs) and asbestos-related lung cancer.
Worryingly, in Great Britain there are in excess of 2,000 deaths each year from lung cancer that can be attributed to past asbestos exposure. It’s therefore good to know that all of Procol’s site staff are trained to identify asbestos and handle it correctly, thereby minimising the risk posed to themselves and others.
This is just part of the professional and diligent approach we take to our work, and one of the many reasons why people choose us. To find our more, please get in touch.