21 Sep Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2018
Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2018 – 26th September
Established in 2004 by Meso Foundation community members, Mesothelioma Awareness Day takes place on September 26. It has been the driving force behind the movement to bring more attention and funding to this cancer.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of some of the body’s organs (known as the mesothelium). It’s usually linked to asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma mainly affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), although it can also affect the lining of the tummy (peritoneal mesothelioma), heart or testicles.
Mesothelioma Statistics
More than 2,600 people are diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK.
Inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other serious lung diseases such as asbestosis and pleural thickening.
There were 2,595 mesothelioma deaths in 2016 and is estimated that there were, in addition, a similar number of deaths due to asbestos-related lung cancer.
- Every week around 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease as a result of past exposure.
- If you carry out work on a building that was built or refurbished before the year 2000, you could have been exposed to asbestos, without even knowing it.
- Asbestos still kills around 5000 workers each year, this is more than the number of people killed on the road.
The HSE have a vast amount of information about asbestos and mesothelioma – watch the mesothelioma video clip here on their website or further PDF details of Mesothelioma in Great Britain from the HSE website here.
With Mesothelioma Awareness Day in mind we want to highlight awareness of the risks of asbestos to tradesmen and make sure that our customers ensure their asbestos training is up to date.
Mavis Nye
Mavis Nye is one of the longest surviving people with Mesothelioma and despite most peoples assumption about being exposed to asbestos, Mavis got mesothelioma from her husband.
Ray began to work on a dockyard in the 1950’s, naval ships were built around asbestos and it was everywhere on the ships as it was used for safety reasons.
Little did anyone know that by Mavis having contact with her husband (who had been working in and around asbestos) and in later years, increasing her exposure by washing her husbands overalls, this would result in her getting Mesothelioma.
Mavis and her husband Ray are heavily involved in Mesothelioma awareness and you can even read more information on their Blog.
Training
Here at Training & Testing Services we offer a wide range of asbestos training ranging from asbestos awareness, asbestos management, non licensed asbestos removal, and an online asbestos awareness course.
In addition to this you must ensure you are aware of the risks and all employers have an obligation to protect their staff from exposure to asbestos – this includes PPE.
If providing face masks whether they are full face, half face, reusable or disposable you must ensure they are face fit tested to prove that the mask fits the wearer and is providing the correct level of protection.
Please note: powered air respirators do not require a face fit test. For further help and information please see our face fit testing resources page or contact us for further details.
If you require help with mask selection we have some useful blogs available RPE Selection, What is RPE and What Do I Need?, RPE Training If in any doubt please contact us directly.
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