Buildings that people use in their daily lives, such as workplaces, schools and hospitals are the focus of a new campaign to keep people safe from asbestos.

Asbestos: Your Duty launching today, Monday 15 January, aims to improve understanding of what the legal duty to manage asbestos involves.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) wants anyone with responsibilities for buildings to do everything they must do to comply with the law and prevent exposure to this dangerous substance, which was widely used in post-war construction before it was completely banned in 1999. [Read More]

2400BC was probably the date when asbestos was first discovered. There is clear evidence that asbestos was first used at least 4,500 years ago near the lake Juojarvi in Finland. It shows that people used asbestos to make cooking pots.

A business in America began mining in Ward’s Hill quarry New York in 1858. During the industrial revolution a massive increase in asbestos production and use was noted in North America. Quebec saw its first asbestos mine open in 1874.

Asbestos became very popular throughout the World, especially in Great Britain as we entered the industrial revolution. The new machines became more and more powerful and the heat these engines and machines generated had to be controlled. The perfect insulator at the time was asbestos, which protected the steam pipes, turbines, ovens and kilns. [Read More]