Council backs new asbestos awareness campaign

Shropshire Council’s public protection service is backing a new asbestos awareness campaign launched in October 2014, and is joining organisations across the county to share its safety message with tradespeople, trainees and its own workforce.

As part of the campaign, the Health and Safety Executive has created a free web app that helps people work more safely with asbestos, and supports improved working practices with asbestos and so saves lives.

The council will be sharing the app with staff, and members of the Trader Register scheme, including joiners, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, painters and decorators, general builders, heating engineers, roofers, and those carrying out general maintenance.  In addition, trainers at Shrewsbury College will also be sent the app to help raise awareness among the next generation of tradespeople.

The “Beware Asbestos” free web app takes the user through a decision matrix based upon a series of simple questions; for example, the type of building they are working in, the task being carried out, and the type of asbestos-containing material they are working on.  It identifies whether activities have no asbestos risk, can be undertaken by a tradesperson, or those which require a licensed contractor.  The user is taken to an easy-to-follow ‘how-to’ guide based on the current HSE guidance in Asbestos Essentials, or directed to finding a licensed contractor.

Free asbestos safety kits can be obtained from local B&Q stores, available for Trade Point Customers only.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection, said:

“We welcome and will support this campaign.  Awareness of, and safe working with, asbestos is of great importance for tradespeople.”

For more information about joining the Trader Register www.traderregister.org.uk .

The campaign can be found at http://www.beware-asbestos.info/