The Danger Asbestos Still Represents Heading into 2020

19 Dec 2019

Two decades have passed since asbestos was banned in the UK and Ireland, however, it still continues to claim victims. The sad fact is that despite strict asbestos regulations being in place since the turn of the century, more than 2,500 people each year are still losing their lives after being exposed to this most deadly of construction materials.

Such is the level of the problem, UK solicitors firm - Thompsons, has, to date, won more than £½bn in compensation for those affected by the deadly, invisible fibres that cause so much damage to the lungs. Mesothelioma - an often fatal aggressive form of cancer that can rear its head up to 40 years after exposure - continues to claim the lives of plumbers, electricians and construction workers today.

Asbestos Removal and Disposal
There has been a lot of work done by asbestos abatement companies like ours over the last 20 years to educate both the Irish public and trade regarding how to remove asbestos safely. However, many are still not calling in the experts to conduct essential work like asbestos surveys when encountering what they suspect to be asbestos.

The reason why asbestos removal is still such a hot topic so long after the ban is that there are countless buildings still in existence that were created before it came into place. This means that much of the substance still lurks in ceilings, pipe laggings and much more, such was the widespread use of asbestos during the last century.

There is still much work to do to ensure that asbestos regulations are followed and this worrying trend comes to an end. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a long journey to reach that point, but with the right amount of application and buy-in from all concerned, it can be achieved.

One of Ireland’s Leading Asbestos Companies
At OHSS, we are one of the leading asbestos companies in Ireland and we have been offering occupational hygiene and asbestos abatement services since 2001. This experience has given us all the knowledge and expertise needed to keep 21st-century workplaces safe.

If you’d like to know more about anything discussed here or about our full range of services, visit us online at www.ohss.ie or give our expert team a call today on (01) 6905907.

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