Anger over ASA decision over HSE award winning asbestos campaign

As a specialist asbestos lawyer dealing with compensation claims for victims of asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, which is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, I was stunned to read that officials at the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have upheld one complaint by a single source that the Health and Safety Executive’s award winning asbestos campaign had exaggerated the risk asbestos posed to building workers in its claim that "every year there are more people killed by asbestos than in road accidents."

Apparently according to the ASA the HSE should describe annual death figures of 4000 as estimates in any revised future campaign.

I understand from reading an article in the Contract Journal that the HSE are looking to have the decision overturned.

A press release on the HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/e09080.htm  states that the HSE expressed its “deep disappointment” at the decision.

They go on to say:

“ ‘Asbestos: The hidden killer’ is one of HSE’s most effective and successful campaigns. Almost three-quarters of tradesmen who saw or heard the campaign said that they had already taken more safety precautions or plan to take them.”

“HSE has made no deliberate attempt to mislead the public. Our advertising is based on the same robust statistical evidence and scientific understanding that underpins government policy on asbestos. Whatever the slight differences on interpretation of the figures, there are facts about risk from asbestos that workers should not be denied.”

“Asbestos is Britain’s biggest work related killer and significant exposure to asbestos fibres leads to illnesses that currently kill an estimated 4000 people  every year – more than die in  road accidents.”

Of course all such campaigns need to be accurate but surely the current problem is that workers are underestimating the risks posed to their health by exposure to asbestos and seeing it as a problem from years ago and not something that affects them today.  The message the ASA is giving out simply reinforces this in peoples heads as a risk that is not to be taken that seriously.  Perhaps the ASA should talk to the victims of asbestos related diseases and their families before it makes its rulings in the future.

For more information on the campaign visit www.hse.gov.uk/hiddenkiller