Asbestos is the largest single cause of employment-related deaths in the UK, killing around 3,000 people per year. Some predictions suggest that by 2010 that figure may be as high as 10,000.
Asbestos-related claims are costing the insurance industry enormous sums of money and it is estimated that the cost will eventually rise to between £6bn and £8bn. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is making management of asbestos a high priority and it is determined to ensure that information on asbestos in premises is available to employers and their workers.
