Men’s Health Week: Men account for nearly 85% of asbestos-related deaths in Great Britain

Men's Health Week

If you’ve been on social media or picked up a newspaper during the past few days, you’ll have been hard pressed not to notice that it’s Men’s Health Week.

Men’s Health Week raises awareness about the health issues that affect men disproportionately and focuses on getting men to become more aware of health problems they may have, or could develop, and gain the courage to do something about it.

The year’s week, which runs until June 21, features three related campaigns around the theme of ‘better mental health in a Covid world’.

Why is Men’s Health Week so important?

Even before the pandemic, men’s mental health was a cause for concern. There is a grave disparity in the high number of men who die from suicide and the low number of men who seek treatment for depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges.

Men’s Health Forum, which organises Men’s Health Week, has found particular groups of male-dominated workforces have suffered disproportionately in terms of income during the pandemic and some have received little support from government to compensate for this loss. Men are more likely to be in the sort of jobs that cannot easily be done from home with the result that many male-dominated workforces are also at greater risk from Covid-19. 

Men’s mental health is a cause which is close to the hearts of many of our colleagues at Acorn Analytical Services. Earlier this year our very own Dan Crask even took up the challenge to run 100k in one month to raise £200 for Mental Health UK. He was inspired to run for the charity because he suffered mental health problems a few years ago and was conscious that many others have struggled with their mental health during the past year due to the additional pressures brought about by Coronavirus and lockdown.

Dan, who is an Asbestos Surveyor at Acorn, smashed his running target within only 18 days and by the end of the month he’d completed a staggering 164k. He also smashed his original fundraising target and ended up raising a fantastic £1,650 for the charity. Everyone at Acorn is incredibly proud of Dan and his achievement because we know what a difference his fundraising has made to men’s lives.

If you’ve read our blogs before you’ll also know our entire team at Acorn works tirelessly to educate people about the dangers of asbestos. Asbestos remains the world’s biggest workplace killer and it’s estimated a terrifying 125m people around the globe remain at risk of occupational exposure to asbestos, including people in the UK.

When you look at the figures for asbestos fatalities, they reveal that there are substantially higher numbers of deaths among men which reflects the fact that past asbestos exposures tended to occur in male dominated occupations.

Last year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its Mesothelioma Statistics for Great Britain 2020 report. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops following the inhalation of asbestos fibres and is usually rapidly fatal following the onset of symptoms.

Based on the latest information the report revealed that there are on average 2,500 mesothelioma deaths here every year. Of the 2,446 deaths that were reported in 2018, nearly 84% were male deaths. The report went on to say that men who worked in the building industry during the 20th century, when asbestos was used extensively, are among those most at risk of mesothelioma.

However, this is not to say that today’s workers are not also at risk. Sadly, because around 1.5m buildings in the UK still contain asbestos, any workers who disturb the fabric of those buildings  – including builders, maintenance workers, electricians and plumbers – may be putting themselves at risk if the asbestos is not managed correctly. This is why we work so hard to raise awareness about asbestos amongst business owners, employees and the wider public and why we back the efforts of charities like Mesothelioma UK and ActionMeso. We want the public to be alert to the dangers of asbestos in their daily lives so that in the next few years we will hopefully start to see the numbers of asbestos-related deaths in our country coming down.

How can you make a difference during Men’s Health Week?

During this Men’s Health Week do yourselves and your loved ones a favour – take a minute to visit the Men’s Health Forum website so you can find out about the work it is doing to make men’s lives better and the support that is available to men.

We would also urge you to visit the Mesothelioma UK website and the ActionMeso website to find out about the work they are doing to help those suffering with mesothelioma and so you can access advice on how to keep yourself safe from the dangers of asbestos.

Last – but not least – if you have a building that is older than 20 years old it may contain asbestos so make sure you get it checked for asbestos before you carry out any work on it. If you own a business don’t forget it is your responsibility to make sure your staff and visitors are protected against the risks of coming into contact with asbestos at your workplace.

If you need any help we offer a FREE 30-minute asbestos review surgery with our Commercial Manager Sian Stone to discuss your current asbestos needs and to find out if there is anything you need to put in place to comply with asbestos law. If you want to book an appointment with Sian, click here

Acorn is a professional asbestos consultancy helping organisations deal with asbestos compliance using asbestos surveysasbestos 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

Ian Stone

I am based out of our Northampton office but regularly travel to meet with new and existing clients. I have assisted thousands of clients over the years on varying-sized projects, several have been schemes totalling over one million pounds spent purely on asbestos. Together with Neil Munro, I host our weekly podcast – Asbestos Knowledge Empire and I am Co-author of Asbestos The Dark Arts and Fear and Loathing of Health and Safety.

Need Help? Request a Call Back

Request a call back from one of our expert Asbestos Consultants who will help you identify what you need

More Asbestos Articles

This Men's Health Month is time to talk about absestos

Men’s Health Month – it’s time to talk openly about asbestos

NOVEMBER marks Men’s Health Month – a time for shining the spotlight on the conditions and issues which affect men from all walks of life. While the focus quite rightly turns to serious health issues including Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer and mental health, at Acorn Analytical Services we want people to start talking about asbestos. … Read more

Asbestos consultancy Acorn Analytical Services will soon be moving into new offices

Have you heard the news? Asbestos consultancy Acorn Analytical Services Northampton is on the move

IF you haven’t heard the news already, we are delighted to announce that asbestos connsultancy Acorn Analytical Services Northampton will be starting a brand-new chapter very soon. In the coming days, our team will be moving to new – much larger – offices on Northampton’s Moulton Park, the place which has been our home for … Read more

asbestos in talcum powder

Unveiling the Hidden Danger: The Menace of Asbestos in Talcum Powder and the UK’s Stance

Explore the veiled danger of asbestos in talcum powder, the UK’s vigilant regulations, and the unfolding narrative of consumer safety. Dive into the rigorous testing methodologies, industry responses, and the promising horizon of international cooperation aiming to foster a safer landscape in the realm of personal care products.

RAAC and asbestos could be a problem in some buildings

Raac and ruin? How concrete crisis also raises the question of asbestos

A LOT has been said recently about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) and asbestos. While fears about the safety of RAAC continue to dominate the headlines both nationally and locally, it is the additional threat from asbestos which we believe should be discussed now as a matter of urgency. Just as RAAC is crumbling in … Read more

Asbestos consultancy, Acorn Analytical Services, will be raising money for Mesothelioma UK

Asbestos consultancy gears up for 24-hour fundraising challenge

FOR many years the team at Acorn Analytical Services has been an avid supporter of Mesothelioma UK, the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting people affected by this deadly disease. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres and shockingly still kills around 5,000 people each year in the UK – … Read more

RAAC and asbestos could be a problem in some buildings

The Ultimate Guide to Asbestos Surveyors: Why Your Safety Depends on It

Asbestos, once a ‘miracle material’, now poses severe health risks. Uncover the significance of asbestos surveys in the UK and why your safety depends on it.

Asbestos: Having the right consultancy in your corner has never been more important

‘Having the right consultancy to help you manage asbestos has never been more important’

A REPORT written by asbestos expert and director of Acorn Analytical Services, Ian Stone, has highlighted the worrying state of asbestos in the UK. The Annual Asbestos Industry Review provides a unique insight into the industry and a snapshot of the work being done by Acorn Analytical Services – one of the largest independent consultancies … Read more

Management of asbestos in schools

Management of Asbestos in Schools: A Comprehensive Analysis

In this blog post, we delve into the critical issue of asbestos management in UK schools, the recent HSE report, and the role of Acorn Analytical Services in ensuring safe learning environments.

Asbestos: Dispelling 3 common myths

Is your business fully compliant with the latest asbestos regulations?

HOW much do you really know about asbestos? If your building was built before 1999, have you ever had it checked? If you know it’s there, do you know for sure that you’re compliant with the latest rules and regulations around asbestos management? If the answer to either of these questions is ‘no’ it’s time … Read more

Asbestos in fire

Act Now: Uncover the Silent Perils of Asbestos in Fire-Damaged Buildings – A Deep Dive into the Brighton Hotel Incident

Asbestos in fire situations poses significant health risks. Understand the dangers, especially in textured coatings, and the need for expert remediation.