Insurer Allianz has warned the drive towards sustainability is contributing to a re-emergence of the threat posed by asbestos to a wide range of workers.

As the UK insurance industry met in Manchester for the annual British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) conference Andy Miller Loss Control Technical Manager, Allianz Insurance, said the threat from asbestos was rising as Millennials, gen Z workers and other younger people who work as plumbers, electricians, and in other trades are failing to take the risk of asbestos seriously.

It comes as the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a campaign to highlight the issue.

The campaign, called Asbestos and You, is aimed at all tradespeople with a focus on younger workers in trades such as plastering and joinery.

The regulator is concerned the length of time it takes for symptoms to develop after asbestos exposure could lead to a perception among today’s younger workers that it is something that only impacts older people who were working before the ban.

Five thousand people a year still die from asbestos related illnesses and asbestos can still be found in buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000. It makes asbestos the biggest workplace killer in the country.

“While is has long been a major risk, we are seeing a re-emergence,” warned Miller. “While regulations have been in place for many years, it remains the number one workplace killer it he UK.

“The concern is that young trades people are not taking the issue seriously. They may not be taking the necessary precautions as they should do. The long term nature of the disease raises the risks the young people do not think it will happen to them.

“The move toward sustainability is also having an effect. Older buildings are being significantly renovated to increase their sustainability but tiles, aertex and flooring may well contain asbestos and as such there needs to be proper and adequate protections taken.”

Miller added that there are also concerns that the current regulations around asbestos may well be repealed as part of the Brexit process.

He explained the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, which limit the amount of asbestos allowed on sites and requires work with exposure to asbestos to be assessed before it takes place, are derived from EU regulations.

This means they could be swept up in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022 – which will strip away the special status of all EU-derived law in the UK at the end of 2023 and create a “sunset date” by which all EU law will either be repealed or assimilated into UK law.

“Personally I do not think this will be the case,” Miller explained. “I don’t think it will happen, but it is part of the discussion.”

Miller’s called is backed by the HSE.

Its chief executive Sarah Albon said: “Asbestos exposure in Great Britain is still the single greatest cause of work-related deaths.  We are committed to protecting people in the workplace and reducing future work-related ill health.

“Everyone working in construction today, of any age, must take the risk from asbestos seriously.

“Asbestos is dangerous when not maintained in a safe condition or if physically disturbed without the right measures in place to avoid fibres being released into the air.”

Five thousand people a year still die from asbestos related illnesses and asbestos can still be found in buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000. It makes asbestos the biggest workplace killer in the country.