Campaign to protect health of builders

A campaign is being launched to find out what construction firms are doing to protect their workers’ health, particularly over exposure to dust and damage to lungs.

The Health and Safety Executive said inspections will be held, which, for the first time, will focus on respiratory risks and occupational lung disease.

It will examine measures businesses have in place to protect their workers’ lungs from asbestos, silica and wood dust.

Inspectors will visit construction businesses and sites across the country throughout next month looking for evidence of construction workers knowing the risks, and to check they are using the right controls.

If necessary the teams will use enforcement to ensure staff are protected.

HSE’S Peter Baker, chief inspector of construction, said: “Around 100 times as many workers die from diseases caused or made worse by their work than are killed in construction accidents.

“Annually, work-related cancers, mainly linked to asbestos and silica, are estimated to kill 3,500 people from the industry. “Thousands of others suffer life-changing illnesses from their work.

“Not all lung diseases take years to develop. Some can occur more quickly.”