A new campaign will 'crack down' on poorly planned maintenance that has the potential to kill and injure.

Amid news that 100 people died from asbestos-related illness in the last few years, the Health Service Executive in Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Districts Councils will team up with safety regulators to launch a safe maintenance campaign.

Too often, setting out to fix or repair machinery or plant can lead to needless death and injury, say the campaign promoters. During the past year, 30% of all workplace fatalities were related to maintenance activities.

The campaign's message will be reinforced during inspections by both regulators. Particular emphasis will be given to exposure to asbestos, working at heights and locking out machinery.

Supporting this work will be seminars, guidance materials and an interactive on line tool, all designed to encourage safe maintenance practices.

Welcoming the new campaign, HSENI Deputy Chief Executive Bryan Monson said: "Good maintenance really does save an organisation time, money and, most importantly, saves lives".

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Marcus Potts, Principal Environmental Health Officer, North Down District Council added: "This joint initiative relates to an area of work that has been the source of many accidents and injuries in recent years. Safe maintenance, specifically asbestos, work at height and isolation are key risk areas and it is important that in partnership with HSENI, we continue to tackle issues such as these."

100 Victims

This campaign coincides with the revelation that over 100 have died in Northern Ireland from asbestos-related diseases in the last three years.

SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat gained the information after questioning the DETI Minister Arlene Foster.

Mr Dallat has now called for the immediate implementation of the The Damages (asbestos-related conditions) Bill after discovering the amount of deaths between 2008-2010.

Mr Dallat said The Damages Bill passed its final stage in the Assembly in March and received Royal Assent recently. These decisions overturn a previous decision by the House of Lords that compensation would no longer be paid to those diagnosed with pleural plaques.

The bill passed by the Assembly is similar to the bill adopted by the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Dallat said: "The fact that so many people are still dying from this dreadful condition makes it imperative that everything is done to help those who are afflicted by this form of cancer. It is also critical that the campaign to warn people of the danger of asbestos materials is stepped up.

"Today, asbestos in its various forms is still present in tens of thousands of homes, many of them undergoing renovations which necessitate the removal of asbestos from fireplaces, pipes and boilers. There is an added problem that dangerous materials of this type are being disposed of illegally exposing the wider population to the risks posed by asbestos."

A new risk involves workmen who are now travelled abroad looking for work, which often includes demolition of buildings, which contain asbestos.

These people have virtually no protection under European Union laws and may only discover they have asbestosis or mesothelioma years later when it is too late.

(LB/BMcC)