GSH COMBATS THREAT OF HIDDEN KILLER

GSH Group plc is taking a proactive approach in wiping out the threat of asbestos-related disease by supporting the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in raising awareness of the dangers of asbestos and how to identify and manage it safely.

More people die from asbestos-related disease per year in the UK than are killed on the roads. Although GSH engineers do not work directly with asbestos, GSH is currently running a series of asbestos awareness sessions. The Company is also distributing HSE literature providing information about the hidden killer so that engineers can identify asbestos at clients' sites, ensuring that they, client staff and the general public are protected at all times.

These sessions cover the different types of asbestos, the types of structures in which it is likely to be found, and what to do if damaged or unstable asbestos is detected.

Group Director for Safety, Health and Environment for GSH Group plc and Deputy Chairman of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) Robert Greenfield has been involved in discussions at HSE workshops to agree literature content and will be involved in raising asbestos awareness at health and safety events in the BIFM regions during the summer. Robert will be speaking at the regional BIFM conferences this year to highlight the dangers of asbestos and challenging the industry to do more to protect its employees from exposure to asbestos fibres.

Robert Greenfield said: "We are delighted to back the HSE in raising awareness of asbestos. Asbestos claims many lives each year, so it is important to make people aware of the continuing threat of exposure to it and inform them on how it can be managed properly to eliminate the risk of people dying from Mesothelioma, Asbestosis and other associated lung diseases. By incorporating asbestos awareness as part of our training, we are providing our engineers with crucial information that could help them to identify asbestos onsite. By doing so, they can help to save many lives."

Earlier this year, GSH supported the HSE in its 'Shattered Lives' campaign, which highlighted the devastating consequences of simple slips, trips and falls in the workplace. GSH shared best practice with the HSE so that it could learn more about health and safety issues in the facilities and energy management industry.