A NEW campaign warns of the risks of asbestos exposure after figures showed one person dies every couple of months in Somerset from asbestosis.

The Health and Safety Executive’s ‘Asbestos: The Hidden Killer’ initiative was launched last Friday in the South-West, where 2,437 men died from mesothelioma from 1981-2005.

In Somerset, 171 were killed by the industrial disease, with 32 in the Taunton and Wellington area.

Helen Ratcliffe, head of the HSE’s chemical carcinogens and asbestos policy unit, said: “We’re visiting colleges because it’s vital we reach young people starting out on careers as tradesmen and women to raise their awareness of asbestos before they’re at risk of exposure.

“Exposure to asbestos is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths, with around 4,000 people a year dying from asbestos-related disease.

“The overall number of deaths is rising because a large number of workers who have already been exposed to asbestos dust around 40 years ago will go on to develop mesothelioma, a terminal cancer or other asbestos-related diseases.”

One in four are tradesmen, although research suggests most are unaware of the risks because they incorrectly believe that, since asbestos was banned years ago, the problem has disappeared.

Ms Ratcliffe said: “Even today, asbestos presents a real and relevant risk to plumbers, joiners, electricians and many other maintenance workers.

“Asbestos may be present in any building constructed or refurbished before the year 2000, and around 500,000 non-domestic buildings could contain asbestos.

“They all need repair and maintenance work from time to time and when the asbestos fibres are disturbed they’re likely to be inhaled as a deadly dust.”

*For a free asbestos information pack, call 0845-3450055 or click on the link.