In January 2009 health and safety inspectors from the council will be working together with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other councils in Sussex to carry out targeted visits to around 1000 local businesses, large and small.
Local Business Advice Visits in Sussex
Our local asbestos awareness visits are to:
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check that businesses are not exposing employees, contractors or visitors to potentially harmful asbestos fibres
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confirm that there are appropriate measures in place to comply with their responsibilities under the asbestos regulations
Download Letter and Advice Leaflet
In Eastbourne our visits will specifically target office premises. A circular letter and advice leaflet has been sent to 100 businesses with offices in Eastbourne to warn them that they may receive a visit.
You can download copies of our letter and advice leaflet in PDF format below.
The Greatest Single Cause of Work-related Deaths
It is vital to prevent asbestos related diseases, which:
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cause around 4,000 deaths per year - over 16 times the number of deaths from accidents at work
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remain the largest occupational killers in the UK, with numbers continuing to rise
In Eastbourne alone 36 people died from Mesothelioma cancer between 1985 - 2004, and this is because they may been exposed to asbestos fibres in the past.
The Hidden Killer Campaign
Our local awareness campaign visits to office premises in Eastbourne are in addition to the national Asbestos - The Hidden Killer campaign from the HSE which is aimed at tradesmen including electricians, plumbers and joiners at risk from exposure to asbestos.
Around 25 per cent of those dying from asbestos related disease have worked in the building maintenance and repair trades at some time during their working lives. Visit the HSE campaign website to find out more.
You are at: www.eastbourne.gov.uk/asbestos
