A new initiative is being launched in Lancashire, aimed at tackling one of the biggest killers in UK workplaces.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Wyre Borough Council are to visit nearly 120 companies on the Red Marsh industrial estate in Thornton Cleveleys as part of a campaign to eliminate the danger of asbestos.
According to the HSE, the scheme will also strive to identify issues such as working at height risks and the threat of vehicles used in the industry, which may interest those with builders liability insurance.
Steven Smith, HSE's principal inspector for Lancashire, says it is "surprising" how many employees are not aware of the potential hazards they encounter every day, such as the presence of asbestos.
"We regularly investigate completely avoidable incidents which can have a devastating impact on the lives of workers and their families," he explains.
Recently, plumber Alan Ward has received £175,000 in compensation after suffering from the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma, which illustrates the need for plumbers liability insurance.