Asbestos is one of the most serious workplace hazards because it’s often hidden, easy to disturb, and difficult to detect with your senses (source Health & Safety Executive, HSE). If you work in construction, maintenance, refurbishment, facilities, rail or utilities, this is a topic worth keeping front of mind even on “routine” jobs.

At Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited (Hunter) our mission is clear: we protect those on whom society depends. Part of that protection is sharing awareness, helping teams ask the right questions before work starts, recognise when something isn’t right, and follow the correct procedures to prevent exposure.

The HSE’s Work Right campaign highlights a key point: asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished before 2000, with many homes built in the 1950s, 60s and 70s particularly likely to contain it.

Asbestos-related diseases often develop years, sometimes decades, after exposure (source HSE). That’s why prevention starts long before anyone opens a toolbox. The HSE notes asbestos still causes around 5,000 deaths a year from past exposure.

This isn’t about alarm it’s about practical, everyday awareness that helps people go home safe. The mindset that protects people is to assume, check, then act and always ensure you have the correct PPE for the job.

HSE guidance shows it may be found in many common places including within building fabric and components that people may encounter during day-to-day work. The goal isn’t for everyone to become an asbestos expert overnight it’s to build a habit of checking and caution in the environments where asbestos is most likely to exist. If there’s uncertainty about the material or the work type, the safest approach is to stop and seek competent advice before proceeding.

If you require PPE supply we can be your trusted supplier, contact our sales team today sales@hunterapparelsolutions.com