Open Letter

Open letter to the Department for Education

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP

Department for Education

20 Great Smith Street

London

SW1P 3BT

Dear Secretary of State,

With this letter, we urge you to act now to protect the next generation of tradespeople and their families from the UK’s biggest workplace killer - asbestos.

Asbestos was completely banned in the UK on 24 November 1999, a quarter of a century ago. Despite this, The Health and Safety Executive estimates that up to 1.5 million buildings in the UK still contain asbestos, and that it is responsible for over 5,000 deaths each year. 

High Speed Training commissioned a number of surveys, seeking to gain answers and insight from tradespeople and from the general public on their attitudes towards asbestos.

• 46% of tradespeople think the asbestos training they received was insufficient
• 70% of tradespeople think asbestos training should be compulsory for apprentices and those at colleges 
• 74% of tradespeople think there needs to be more awareness of the impact of asbestos on tradespeople’s families

The next generation of tradespeople, along with apprentices and students entering the trades, are on the front lines of asbestos exposure. Without clear and mandated training, they risk not only their own health, but the health of their colleagues, their families, and of the general public.

What needs to be done

We are calling on the Department for Education to make asbestos awareness training a compulsory part of the curriculum for college, trainee and apprentice-level tradespeople, to allow the next generation of tradespeople to identify and manage this silent killer safely and correctly.

This should include:

1. Specific modules on asbestos, including its use, where it is commonly found, and how to identify potential exposure situations
2. Practical training on correct practice, including the safe identification, removal and disposal techniques, and the correct PPE needed to safely handle asbestos
3. Awareness of long-term health risks, for themselves, their families, and the general public

Training the next generation of tradespeople on proper asbestos practices will have a number of tangible benefits, reaching far beyond the worksites that they may find themselves on.

Increased levels of training and knowledge will:

• Save lives by preventing unnecessary exposure and instances of asbestos mismanagement
• Protect families, friends and the general public by reducing instances of secondary asbestos exposure
• Foster safe and supportive workplaces that put staff safety at the heart of what they do
• Reduce long-term financial burdens on the NHS, employers and government bodies by preventing unnecessary exposure

The time to act is now. By introducing mandatory asbestos training at the college and apprentice level, we can ensure that no young worker is left unarmed against this deadly threat.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Richard Anderson                           Liz Darlison                                          Paul Beaumont                                           Charles Pickles

Learning Experience Director            Chief Executive Officer                      Chief Executive Officer                             Lead Campaigner

High Speed Training                            Mesothelioma UK                               IATP                                                           Airtight on Asbestos