Mesothelioma
(asked on 8th January 2015) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to raise awareness of mesothelioma and its cause by (a) exposure to asbestos and (b) other causes.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has run a number of asbestos related awareness raising campaigns including the ‘Hidden Killer’ campaign in 2008-09; the asbestos ‘Training Pledge’ in 2010; and the current ‘Beware Asbestos’ campaign.
The ‘Beware Asbestos’ campaign was launched in October 2014 and is aimed at trades in which people who may disturb asbestos-containing materials in their day to day work. It includes information on identifying asbestos-containing materials and simple, easy to understand advice on how to avoid exposure to asbestos when carrying out a range of common work activities on such materials. It features a smartphone ‘app’ as a means of delivering this information to.
HSE has guidance on the health risks from asbestos, including mesothelioma on its dedicated asbestos related web pages, together with comprehensive information on how to comply with the legal controls covering work with asbestos. This is available at
Information about causes and symptoms of mesothelioma and advice on seeking help is also available on NHS Choices at
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Lungcancer/Pages/Asbestosandlungcancer.aspx