Observations on the asbestos industry : Perceptions of decline and a view to move forward

Abstract

The history of asbestos spans well over the 100 years that we are commonly aware of. It is known to be one of the most devastating workplace killers, with figures released by the HSE demonstrating a current trend of approximately 5,000 deaths annually attributed to diseases developed by exposure to asbestos fibres. In this paper we summarise some of that history and look at how the industry has stagnated over the past decade with little development in regulation or work practices, suggesting that the industry is in decline. This paper makes commentary on the position of the industry in the current economic climate and proposes change to attitudes and understanding to ensure the risk to human health posed by asbestos continues to be reduced and quality of service delivery improved.