Coroner expresses concern at multiple asbestos related deaths of former power station employees

A West Somerset coroner has highlighted the high number of asbestos related deaths of former employees of Hinkly A power station as well as many other industries

Last Updated on May 11, 2021 by

A coroner has expressed concern about the number of former construction workers at a Somerset nuclear power station who have died as a result of exposure to asbestos.

West Somerset coroner Michael Rose said that in the past 14 years he had personally recorded 26 cases.  The construction of Hinkley A power station commenced in 1957 and large quantities of asbestos were used for insulation.

Mr Rose stated that “More people have died in this county in the last quarter of a century from asbestos-related diseases than any other industrial illness or accident. In the last 10 years alone, 91 cases of mesothelioma have been registered at Taunton and in the majority of cases I have found they originated from asbestos exposure.”

Mesothelioma is caused through breathing in fibres of asbestos. The fibres can become lodged in the lining of the lung and it can take up to 60 years for symptoms, such as breathing difficulties and pain, to develop. The use of asbestos was not banned in the UK until 1999 and therefore there are many buildings in which asbestos still remains. Section 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulation 2012 states that any worker whom is likely to come into contact with asbestos in their work tasks must receive asbestos awareness training.

This means that many types of workers from a variety of industries will require the training, for example construction and demolition workers, joiners, electricians, plumbers, surveyors, architects and shop fitters. The course will educate you in the history of asbestos, what it looks like, the risks and effects on health, the types and uses of asbestos and procedures to follow.

Armco can provide this training for a competitive £55 per person plus Vat here at our offices in Bury or at your premises throughout the UK. In addition, we provide Works with Non-licensed Asbestos Containing Materials training and a quantitive respiratory mask face fitting service. Call the office on 0161 761 4424 for further details.

Published Oct 29, 2012

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