THIS afternoon, England’s Three Lions made a winning start to their World Cup campaign beating Iran in their first match in Qatar.
But one footballing legend fears he could be in danger of developing mesothelioma after starting his career as an electrician in the 1980s.
While former England legend Stuart Pearce is now undoubtedly best known for his football career, which saw him roar to the crowd as he scored an iconic penalty against Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 96 and an MBE for services to football in 1999, Stuart has thrown his support behind campaigns which raise awareness of the hidden dangers of asbestos and mesothelioma, which remains a significant threat to health more than 20 years after asbestos was banned in new buildings.
Here, Acorn Analytical Services explain more.
Asbestos: A ticking timebomb
In 2015, Stuart first spoke out about his fears of developing mesothelioma after starting his working for himself as an electrician.
In an interview with The Express newspaper, he said: “I was working as an electrician for four-and-a-half years, and it’s chilling to think I could have been exposed to asbestos without knowing.
“Many people today think it’s a thing of the past but it’s not, it’s still there.
“It can be found in walls, ceilings, even floor tiles and guttering – basically in any type of building built before 2000.
“I qualified as an electrician in 1983 and immediately started working for myself. I worked in warehouses, industrial estates and boiler rooms so the chances of me not breathing it in are very slim.
“The facts and figures are alarming. The number of asbestos–related deaths in the UK is scary.”
They certainly are.
According to Mesothelioma UK, 2,700 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the UK. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that around 5,000 people die from the disease every year.
At Acorn Analytical Services, we work hard to raise awareness of the dangers and help businesses make important decisions about how to manage the asbestos in their buildings and stay within the law.
Asbestos: What you need to know
Used extensively as a cheap, fire-retardant building material in the 1950s and 1960s, the use of asbestos was finally banned in the UK in 1999.
While the ban was an important step forward in the fight against asbestos, the truth is that asbestos remains a hidden problem, lurking inside many old buildings including hospitals, factories, shops and even schools where it can lie undetected for decades.
Over time, asbestos will degrade putting anyone nearby at risk of breathing in any fibres which are released into the air. If they are inhaled, these fibres can go on to cause mesothelioma, a deadly cancer which affects the lungs and the stomach.
The only way to protect yourself and those around you is by carrying out a full asbestos survey of your property or premises.
Our team of experts, who are fully accredited by the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), will carry out a thorough inspection of your space. If asbestos is found we can give you all the support and information you need to help keep everyone around you safe and ensure you remain fully compliant with the latest regulations.
Acorn is a professional asbestos consultancy helping organisations deal with asbestos compliance using asbestos surveys, asbestos air testing, and asbestos removal management.
Please call one of the team, or use the online form to obtain your free quotation. If you would like further information or advice on asbestos and asbestos training, contact the team on 0844 818 0895 or Contact Us
