Tradesmen with plumbing course qualifications have been reminded of the dangers posed by asbestos and urged to check they know how to deal with the substance.
Kevin Wellman, acting chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers (CIPHE), told H&V News that people in the industry are the most likely to encounter asbestos.
The news source highlighted how the number of deaths caused by the issue is predicted to rise from now until 2016, with 2,249 fatalities in 2008 as a result of mesothelioma - a type of lung cancer heavily linked to the substance.
Mr Wellman added: "The figures are bad enough - what we don't want is a new occurrence or risk of asbestos-related illness simply due to people not understanding what to do."
This month, the CIPHE appointed a new president, with Lee Davies of Portsmouth taking over from Allan McIntosh. Ron Berry will act as his vice president.
Want to know more about our plumbing courses