Ref. 29289-25BUSINESSES could be putting workers' lives at risk because they are refusing to recognise the dangers of asbestos, according to a health and safety expert.

Keith Taylor described the lethal dust, used to insulate buildings, as a ticking time bomb.

And he has urged Swindon firms to wake up to their responsibilities under a new law to come into effect in May this year.

The law, part of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, shifts the onus of managing the risk from asbestos from contractors to employers.

Owners of non-domestic premises have until May 21 to conduct a survey of their property to find out if it contains asbestos.

If it does they will be expected to ensure that any maintenance work carried out on the building is done in a controlled and informed manner.

A survey of Swindon companies carried out last month by Mr Taylor, who works for consultants Capaz Business Survival in Purton, found the vast majority appeared indifferent to the new regulation.

"Eighty per cent of Swindon companies either did not know about the regulations or those that did were not planning to do anything about it," he said.

"People are ignorant about the risks and people's lives are being put at risk."

Asbestos-related disease is the biggest occupational health killer in the UK claiming 3,500 lives each year, and Mr Taylor said this figure was expected to increase 10-fold over the next few years.

Businesses who fail in their duty of care may face legal action from the Health and Safety Executive, which could result in a penalty of unlimited fines or even imprisonment.

Carrying out surveys can be a costly business, with surveyors charging £500 for a day's work and laboratories demanding £60 to analyse a single sample.

But Mr Taylor said it could be more costly to ignore the new regulation.

Last month Janet Jones, the widow of a Swindon carpenter exposed to asbestos, won substantial damages against his ex-employers, Reema Construction.

Alan Jones, of Nythe, had developed mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer of the lungs, and died aged 58 in August 2001 after a lengthy illness.

In January Keith Freeman, who spent 44 years at the Railway Works, received £120,000 from British Rail after contracting the same disease.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive respiratory cancer known as the Swindon Disease because of its prevalence among former staff of the old Railway Works.

In April last year a Swindon Disease memorial garden was opened in Queen's Park, built by Swindon Council and paid for with £12,000 raised by an Evening Advertiser appeal.

l Capaz Business Survival, which is trying to raise the awareness of asbestos and the new regulations in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive, is offering free awareness sessions to companies.

Call 01793 778172 for more information.

Andy Tate