What's been in news
If you follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, you will know that we regularly publish news that we think you find interesting, of use or insightful. We also have a YouTube channel - click on the links (on the right on desktop) to go to our social platforms.
Below are direct links to recent news posted:
May 2022
E&E News
Article
News coming out of the USA, published by E&E News reports an upsurge in asbestos imports from Brazil and China.
In the first 3 months of 2022, 114 metric tons of raw chrysotile asbestos (white asbestos) have been imported. Considering 100 metric tons were imported into the USA in the whole of 2021, this is a worrying statistic.
US import of white asbestos increases from 2021
News Medical
Data looking at women's mortality rates from mesothelioma in the USA. A study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reported in News Medical looked specifically at deaths during the period from 1999 to 2020 and categorised the deaths according to occupation. The highest number of deaths due to mesothelioma was observed in the health care and social assistance industry and the homemaker occupation.
Women's mortality rates from mesothelioma in the USA
Leeds Live
A family based in Leeds seek answers to how dad of 3, Reginald Spence may have been exposed to asbestos during his working career. Reginald was employed at Yorkshire Copper Works, Leeds (now known as Yorkshire Imperial Metals Ltd) from 1964 - 1978.
In July 2020, Reginald experienced chest pain and sought his GP's advice. Sadly, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and passed away on 24 August 2020.
Family of Leeds dad who died from mesothelioma seek answers
Mail on Sunday
New drug abemaciclib offers hope to patients with mesothelioma - the cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
New treatment for mesothelioma sufferers
Barking and Dagenham Post
This article, published today in the Barking and Dagenham Post is quite shocking. The lack of awareness about the dangers of asbestos was widespread in the engineering industries in the 60s/70s and beyond.
Retired engineer looks back on working conditions at asbestos manufacturers
April 2022
Work and Pensions Committee
Article
MPs today are calling on the Government and Health and Safety Executive to set a time frame of 40 years for the removal of all asbestos from public and commercial buildings.
It's estimated that there are some 300,000 buildings with asbestos present - including schools. The likelihood of asbestos disturbance is growing as buildings are renovated to meet net zero targets.
MPs call on Government and HSE to commit to asbestos removal time frame
Teesside Live
Reported in Teesside Live this story will resonate with many. Joan Smith, an OAP based in Stockton,Teesside has mesothelioma - the cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. She didn't develop the cancer due to her own exposure to the toxic material. Her husband worked for ICI as an instrument artificer at the ICI Petrochemical Works in Billingham. Decades of washing Ronald's asbestos-ridden overalls meant Joan was unknowingly breathing in asbestos fibres.
Wife blames terminal cancer on washing her husband's work overalls
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) coordinates its Global Asbestos Awareness Week until 7 April.
In the UK alone, it's estimated each year, 5,000 people lose their lives to asbestos exposure (according to Health and Safety Executive data).
The World Health Organization estimates that around 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2022 runs until 7 April
March 2022
The Guardian
Article
The Asbestos Victims Support Group UK has won a landmark case against Cape, one of the UK's largest manufacturers of asbestos. Cape lobbied the UK government to downplay the dangers of asbestos from the 1950s onwards whilst its own research was exposing the exact opposite
UK asbestos manufacturer withheld information on asbestos risks to health
GOV.UK
Not only did Lee Charles of Lincs Demolition Ltd dupe his customers into thinking that he was a licenced asbestos removal specialist but he also failed to dispose of materials safely and in accordance with regulations. Charles was handed a 12-month suspended jail sentence at Lincoln Crown Court.
Lincs man guilty of exposing public to asbestos
February 2022
Glasgow Live
Article
A Glasgow builder has been fined £350 and ordered to pay £3,314 in compensation for illegally dumping general and asbestos waste on private land in London Road, Glasgow. Having attempted to conceal the toxic material with fencing he returned the following day to dump even more.
Glasgow builder found guilty of dumping asbestos waste on private land
The Guardian
We reported last July that the widow of horn player, Christopher Larkin was suing the BBC for his exposure to asbestos whilst working at the BBC's Maida Vale studios. Damages amounting to £1.64m have now been paid by the BBC to 11 families of former staff who died from mesothelioma - a cancer related to prolonged exposure to asbestos.
BBC pays out to 11 families of former staff exposed to asbestos
January 2022
Health and Safety Executive
Article
After a Health and Safety Executive investigation, both the contractor and the building owner have been fined for safety breaches. In May 2017, Marius Andrus was working on fragile asbestos ceiling sheets when the roof gave way and he fell to his death. AJM Services (Midland) Ltd and Pearsons Glass have subsequently been found guilty of breaching safety regulations in hearings in February last year and this month.
Contractor and owner of building both fined by HSE for safety breaches
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive has fined both the managing director and a director of D&M Heritage Ltd, a printing company based in Huddersfield for breaching asbestos regulations. Having previously been alerted to the likelihood that free standing cupboards partly consisted of AIB (asbestos insulation board), the directors still sanctioned the removal and break up of said cupboards, releasing asbestos fibres.
MD and director both fined for breaches of asbestos regulations
Liverpool Echo
The family of a man from Liverpool who died after a diagnosis of mesothelioma is appealing to ex-work colleagues to get in contact in a hope to find answers about how he may have been exposed to asbestos.
Family of Doug Ormsby appeal to ex-colleagues for asbestos exposure information
December 2021
Safety and Health Practitioner
Article
Congratulations to mesowarrior Dr Mavis Nye (hon) BEM. BCAh who's been awarded 'Most Influential person in health & safety for 2021' by Safety and Health Practitioner.
A thoroughly well deserved accolade for such an inspiring campaigner - who tirelessly raises awareness of the dangers asbestos and calls for its removal.
Construction Enquirer
Reported in Construction Enquirer a contractor, employed unskilled and untrained labourers to undertake a toilet block conversion which included replacement of a damaged roof. The Health and Safety Executive found that the labourers disturbed a significant amount of asbestos insulation board and in doing so, spread asbestos debris around the site.
Contractor given community order for breaching asbestos safety regulations
BBC News
Jason Williams was diagnosed with mesothelioma in March 2019 and sadly passed away 6 months later - he was 45. It's thought that he was exposed to asbestos whilst working at the Port Talbot steelworks during his 20s - his job there was to run cables and install computers.
IT worker dies from mesothelioma 20 years after exposure to asbestos
November 2021
Mesothelioma.net
Article
Research coming out from geophysicists at the University of Pennsylvania is a cause for concern. Studying abandoned asbestos waste sites, where the toxic material has been buried under tons of soil, their research recommends communities local to such sites should be monitoring their groundwater closely.
Asbestos containment study points to continued risk of exposure
Daily Mail
Great news - those with pulmonary fibrosis caused by asbestos inhalation will be among more than 15,000 Britons with the disease who will now have the chance to extend their life by two years or more.
Life-extending drug for sufferers of lung-scarring disease will finally be available on the NHS
BBC News
The site of the world's largest asbestos factory has been bought by ESG Trading from Renshaw Properties for an undisclosed sum. Located in Rochdale, the site produced asbestos for over 100 years.
Asbestos: Site of world's largest factory to be cleaned up, new owners say
Health & Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive includes useful information on its website in relation to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and how risks can be controlled in the workplace.
Prevent work-related lung disease
October 2021
World Health Organization
Article
Exposure to lead, particularly on construction sites, can lead to serious health problems. The World Health Organization published a factsheet covering the health risks and sources of exposure to lead dust and particles.
The Guardian
The Health and Safety Executive has fined a company £16,000 plus costs after undertaking a shop conversion which exposed its casual labourers to asbestos.
Liverpool Echo News
An entire roof containing asbestos has been dumped in Raby Mere in the Poulton Hall Road area. Wirral Council will need to employ specialist services to remove the asbestos materials as well as other rubbish dumped at the same site.
UKATA
For anyone working on a site which may potentially contain asbestos, this guide from UK Asbestos Training Association - UKATA is an excellent quick read.
September 2021
Construction News
Article
From 4th October, Health and Safety Executive inspectors will be undertaking spot checks on over 1,000 construction sites.
The Guardian
The BBC is being sued by the widow of Richard Evans who passed away from asbestos-related cancer
The Conversation
We'll all have seen coverage of the services held to commemorate the20th anniversary of 9/11 at the weekend. This article makes for harrowing reading but we still need to raise awareness of toxic dust exposure.
LancsLive
Mary Angela Fox died from mesothelioma in April this year. It's thought that she was exposed to asbestos whilst working in the family run fruit and veg business. In 1995, part of Blackburn market was demolished whilst she was working next door.
Blackburn mum exposed to asbestos when market roof was demolished died from cancer
Mavis Nye Dr (hon) BEM. BCAh
Mavis Nye, President & Co-Founder of Mavis Nye Foundation (MNF) demonstrates how important asbestos awareness training is and so crucial to keeping workers safe in buildings pre-2000.
August 2021
House of Commons Library
Article
A government research briefing 'Fly-tipping - the illegal dumping of waste'. What are the powers and responsibilities of the Environment Agency, local councils and landowners? What reforms are proposed to tackle the problem in the short and longer term?
NorthantsLive
Derelict and abandoned buildings are dangerous sites for many reasons - not least, due to the potential exposure to asbestos.
Yet more trespassing into asbestos-filled building prompts police warning
