SHE sees UKATA safety campaign success
Asbestos Association revealed this year’s Train Safe, Work Safe, Keep Safe campaign
The UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) reports a resoundingly positive response to the launch of its Train Safe, Work Safe, Keep Safe campaign at this year’s Safety and Health Expo (SHE). UKATA was able to promote the campaign at the prestigious event, held at ExCeL London on 21-23 June to further raise awareness of the importance of training when it comes to safely handling asbestos.
Since 2015 UKATA members have been offering free asbestos training courses during September and October, providing the opportunity to educate tradesmen and others who may not otherwise have known about or received asbestos training and UKATA General Manager Craig Evans was keen to take news of this year’s Train Safe, Work Safe, Keep Safe campaign to the Expo. Craig says the feedback received confirms just how important events like SHE are for all involved.
“Overall, we’re extremely pleased to report that SHE was a very positive and fruitful event for UKATA, thanks in no small part to some of the tremendously encouraging responses received from those present,” said Craig. “We’re delighted with the feedback we saw to this year’s Train Safe, Work Safe, Keep Safe, with many requesting more details. Given our experience last year, we knew SHE was the perfect place to launch this year’s campaign and we’re looking forward to progress in the months ahead.”
2016 was UKATA’s third appearance at the market leading annual exhibition for the Health and Safety industry. Running exclusively with the support of IOSH, RoSPA and the BSIF, SHE has established itself as the definitive Health and Safety event, offering three days of educational programmes, suppliers, products and much more.
Craig and the UKATA team took the opportunity to remind those present that around 5,000 people die every year in the UK as a result of breathing in asbestos fibres (http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/dangerous.htm), reinforcing the vital need for better awareness on asbestos safety precautions and the material itself in general and a greater commitment to training.
“We were able to reinforce our safety campaign in addition to making people realise just how dangerous asbestos is,” said Craig. “Asbestos remains the single biggest cause of work related deaths in the UK, so the fact that so many people at SHE were enquiring about UKATA membership and what that involves was an encouraging development.”
UKATA membership allows the holder to be kept up to date with the very latest UK and European legislation, in addition to receiving pertinent information on the importance of training and general asbestos awareness.
“I’m happy to say we received an overwhelming number of enquiries from companies who wish to become members of UKATA,” said Craig. “The SHE presents us with many advantages and opportunities, and I’m glad to report we were able to make the most of them. It’s imperative that any tradesperson who may come across asbestos during the course of their work is aware of the legal requirement and furthermore knows how to protect themselves and those around them. That’s why SHE is so important not just for UKATA, but the industry as a whole,” concluded Craig.
Media Enquiries:
Victoria Castelluccio, Marketing Officer
victoria.castelluccio@ukata.org.uk
01246 824437
Published on Friday 22nd July 2016