Asbestos News

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is launching a new campaign to educate people about the dangers of asbestos.

The new campaign is mostly focused on educating those who own or manage large commercial buildings like factories, warehouses, shops and offices, according to the HSENI.

Almost 60,000 buildings and organizations around Northern Ireland are expected to receive an asbestos education pack from the HSENI, which will include a guide on how to manage the risks of working in a building that contains asbestos.

According to the organization, in the past four years there have been more than 300 asbestos-related deaths in Northern Ireland, and that number is only expected to increase. People who work in building maintenance and repair are at an increased risk for asbestos exposure, because they are more likely to be exposed to or disturb asbestos that may be in the buildings that they are working on.

"Asbestos remains the most serious occupational health issue in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK due to its widespread use," said Peter McKie, the chairman of HSENI. "It may be present in any building built before the year 2000, so it is essential that those with duties under health and safety law are aware of the risk it poses and their responsibilities in managing it."