As we've mentioned previously, asbestos is extremely dangerous. Its dust can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and a variety of other diseases, and statistics suggest that 20 lives are lost every week to asbestos-related illnesses.

With this in mind, you may shocked to learn that asbestos can reportedly be found in 86% of UK schools. A BBC News article posted earlier this week claims that asbestos, which was commonly used for insulation before the turn of the millennium, is "still present in nearly nine out of ten schools in the UK - higher than previous official estimates."

If true, this news is cause for concern indeed. Last month, the Health and Safety Executive ran a #BewareAsbestos campaign, repeatedly quoting statistics about the number of tradespeople (roughly 5,000) who allegedly die from asbestos-related diseases every year. These figures were alarming enough on their own, but we are now forced to consider how much larger the numbers become when you factor in non-trade workers. The BBC report claims that 158 schoolteachers have died of mesothelioma in the last decade, and it is probably safe to assume that more have been taken by cancer, asbestosis, and the other diseases for which asbestos has been held responsible over the years.

Perhaps even worse is the thought of our children being exposed to asbestos dust. Exposure can cause serious health problems in later life, and the oft-quoted fact that 'asbestos is safe if left undisturbed' is not especially reassuring given the circumstances. After all, if asbestos exists in a school environment, the chances of it being "left undisturbed" are slim indeed!

What can be done about asbestos?
 

• Where possible, asbestos should be removed by professionals using the proper PPE
   
• Asbestos warning signs can be utilised to warn people of areas where asbestos is present
   
• We can educate people (especially children) about the dangers of asbestos using informational posters and other means

If you thought asbestos was a thing of the past, think again. Before the turn of the millennium, asbestos was used in all types of building for its insulative and fireproof properties, and while we now know how harmful it can be to human health, asbestos is still commonly found in homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and other buildings.

Here are some sobering facts from the Health and Safety Executive:

• 20 tradespeople die every week as a result of previous exposure to asbestos
• 5,000 workers are killed by asbestos-related diseases every year - fewer people are killed in road accidents each year
• Asbestos can be responsible for many life-threatening lung problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis and pleural thickening

The HSE is currently running a #BewareAsbestos campaign to raise awareness of asbestos, the dangers associated with it, and the fact that it is still very common in the present day. Any building that was constructed before the year 2000 could potentially contain asbestos, and if it does, this poses a risk to everybody, especially any tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, contractors, etc.) who carry out work in the building.

Here at Label Source, we sell a wide range of asbestos warning signs that can be used to warn workers and the general public of asbestos problems on your premises. Here are some of the signs we can provide:

Click here to see the rest of Label Source's asbestos signs.