Construction workers in Carlisle are being encouraged to attend a free half-day event at the Border Way Exhibition Centre on Tuesday 17 March to find out about health and safety tips that could save their lives.
The Health and Safety Executive event is being run in partnership with construction companies as part of the UK-wide Working Well Together initiative.
Figures show that construction workers are at least a hundred times more likely to die from a disease caused or made worse by their work, than they are to be killed while working on a building site.
The event on Tuesday will concentrate on the health risks caused by asbestos, dust, vibrating equipment and noise.
Dorothy Shaw, HSE’s Principal Inspector for Construction in Cumbria, said:
“Exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is estimated to cause 5,000 deaths every year but many workers in the construction industry unknowingly put themselves at risk everyday.
“The event on Tuesday is about helping workers to spot the dangers and take action to keep the risks to a minimum. We’ll also be covering the health issues caused by dust, vibrating equipment and excessive noise, which can have a life-long impact.
“If you run a small building, construction or contracting firm, or are self-employed, then the event is a must for you and I’d encourage as many people as possible to come along.”
The event will take place at the Border Way Exhibition Centre on the outskirts of Carlisle between 8.30am and 12.30pm on Tuesday. For more details, or to arrange to attend, contact Bernadette Barrett on 0151 951 4871 or email [email protected].
