Training sessions are being offered by the South Yorkshire & Humber Working Well Together Group and the Health and Safety Executive.

The courses are aimed mainly at small and medium builders with trades targeted including joiners, painters and plumbers.

Eight sessions are being run over the next month in Goole, Grimsby, Hull and Beverley .

HSE Principal Inspector David Redman said:

“Asbestos can be present in any building built before 2000, so there are literally tens of thousands of them in the region.

“Asbestos surveys should be carried out before work starts on a construction or demolition project and workers told where asbestos could be found and what should be done if it is discovered accidentally.

“Often this is not done, so the law requires anyone who may come into contact with asbestos at work to have asbestos awareness training. This includes joiners, electricians, decorators, heating engineers and general builders.”

Eight half-day training sessions are being held: on 25 May in Goole, 26 May in Grimsby 15 June in Hull and 16 June in Beverley.

Each costs £10 per person for a company with fewer than 15 employees or £20 for a company with 16 or more. 

Booking forms are available at www.wwt.uk.com or contact jan.foers@hse.gsi.gov.uk or mark.atkinson@clugston.co.uk.