NAPIT has launched a new asbestos awareness course, designed to educate at-risk installers on the hazards of coming into contact with this potentially deadly material.

Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), around eight joiners, six electricians and four plumbers per week die from asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestos awareness training is a requirement in the UK under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012). This half-day course from NAPIT will provide the awareness necessary to avoid asbestos, deal with it appropriately when encountered, and comply with legal requirements.

Inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause a variety of serious diseases, all of which are incurable and ultimately fatal. Asbestos was not formally banned (in all its forms) until 1999, however existing asbestos product installations – provided that they are not likely to be disturbed or damaged – are still legal. Moreover, its excellent insulation properties also mean that it was used prolifically prior to this date. The result is that asbestos can be found almost anywhere in UK buildings.