Last updated at 13:25, Wednesday, 04 November 2009

NEARLY 300 people have died from mesothelioma across South Cumbria, new figures have revealed.

According to figures from the Health and Safety Executive, (HSE) 197 people in Barrow, 42 people in Copeland and 59 people in South Lakeland have died from the asbestos-related cancer since 1981.

Dr Helen Clayson, medical director of St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston and a member of Barrow Asbestos-Related Disease Support said: “Barrow has the highest death rate in men from mesothelioma in England.

“The fight with asbestos in this area is far from over. It has been predicted the numbers will reach a peak in about 2015 and then should fall. It is possible the number has already peaked in Barrow, but we cannot say until we have seen the figures. There are issues with diagnosis. We are now much better at diagnosing asbestos-related disease than we were.

“Those numbers fail to take into account the number of tradesmen who are being exposed to asbestos in the workplace and buildings.

“Mesothelioma is a devastating disease with a heavy burden of symptoms which causes massive psychological distress.”

Safety campaigners warned this week a new generation of workers are at risk unless building trades get to grips with Britain’s biggest workplace killer.

The HSE launched a £1.2m, month-long campaign to warn Britain’s 1.8 million tradesmen about the dangers they face. Asbestos: The Hidden Killer runs throughout November and will see more than 500,000 information packs sent out, as well as targeted press and radio adverts.

Steve Coldrick, HSE’s asbestos programme director, said: “Sadly there is nothing we can do to stem the tragic loss of workers who were exposed to asbestos in years gone by. But we can listen to their stories – and the one thing we hear time and again from older workers is that they were never told about the risks of working with asbestos With this campaign we can educate today’s workforce about the risks and what action they need to take to protect themselves from this deadly dust.

“If tradesmen are not sure whether there is asbestos present where they are working they should stop and check.

“We cannot allow this hidden killer to claim another generation of tradesmen.”

MPs in Westminster are demanding government re-open a consultation into compensation for victims of pleural plaques – an asbestos related condition.

MPs and unions have repeatedly called for action after the House of Lords ruled in 2007 sufferers of the disease, which can be an indicator of fatal asbestosis, were no longer entitled to compensation which had existed for more than 20 years.

Despite a government consultation ending months ago, ministers have repeatedly failed to respond. Nationally 4,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases.

First published at 13:10, Wednesday, 04 November 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk