Asbestos is a major issue for trade unions and community-based safety campaigns. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is also running an awareness campaign for tradespeople.
If you are in any way unhappy about working with asbestos:
- stop the job to avoid further exposure;
- get advice from your site safety rep, shop steward or full-time union officer (contact details for unions are available in the workSMART Union Finder); and
- contact a local asbestos campaign or support group, for example, the London Hazards Centre. Many local projects have taken up the asbestos issue in their community. A listing of UK local asbestos campaigns appears on the International Ban Asbestos Campaign website.