Let us stop the biggest workplace killer

Dear Sirs,

Let us stop the biggest workplace killer

As the General Manager of the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), I was very concerned to hear of the circumstances in which a former Liverpool oil rig worker worked during his time on the North Sea some 40 years ago. On behalf of UKATA, I would like to pledge our support as he strives to gain compensation from his former employers, after he has been left with diffuse pleural thickening, allegedly as a result of inhaling clouds of ground asbestos dust, which at the time left him covered from head to toe in the deadly white substance.

Whilst the full dangers of asbestos were not known during the time that Bill Jones, now 67, was working on the oil rig, his lawyer describes that it “could have been prevented, were it not for a deficiency in his employer’s health and safety regime”. 40 years on from working in these circumstances, it’s important that other employers take note of cases like this and ensure that they are doing everything possible to learn from generations gone by. It all starts with better training.

Even now that we know the dangers of asbestos it is still the biggest UK work-related killer. UKATA approved training providers across the UK provide all encompassing training for handling, identifying and removing asbestos. For more information and for a list of UKATA approved members, visit www.UKATA.org.uk

Craig Evans

UKATA General Manager

ENDS

Source: Mersey dad sues oil giant Shell over deadly asbestos exposure more than 40 years ago

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/dad-of-two-sues-oil-giant-shell-7588826

Photograph and caption: Craig Evans, UKATA General Manager

Media contact:
Jon Gardner
BeyondPR
Mobile: 07930 697773
DDI: 0114 275 6996

REF: UKATA00140 – Liverpool oil rig worker