You knew that didn’t you? Today’s the annual occasion to remember those who have sacrificed lives and health in the course of their work. And more importantly, it is a time to do something about it and to confront the vested interests of the ‘elf and safety cynics. Surely it is more relevant this year than any other.
Cycling home from work yesterday, I saw a bloke using a power drill on a fence. While using it, he was standing on the fat wheel of a wheelbarrow. But it’s ok, his mate was holding the handles of the barrow at the time. I got home to find demolition work on the farm building opposite had got to the stage where the asbestos roofing was being removed. Huzzah.
The Royal College of Nursing and the other nursing unions have called for a minute’s silence today at 11 am (GMT) for those killed by COVID in the line of duty.
A no win situation if one were to argue with this is there.
(I fretted over ending that sentence with a question mark)
They’ve just announced along those lines at Piccadilly Station.
Matt Hancock is still refusing to acknowledge any government failings in stockpiling and supplying PPE. The PM in his speech yesterday forgot to mention it. A son of a GP who died said he’d rather the £60,000 promised his family was spent on protecting others with decent PPE.
I expect both politicians to observe the minute’s silence and clap on Thursday and to be filmed doing so.
These Tory Muppets have known since 2016 about the problem with PPE, about the lack of testing programme in the event of a pandemic, the staff shortage issues and NHS funding shortages.
There truly needs to be a reckoning after this crisis has passed. Will we get one? Ha!
Today, Michael Gove suggested that the contents of the stockpile was decided by the scientific advice, as though the shortage was their fault. This glides over the fact that the scientists had specifically asked the government to provide for the stockpile as recently as a few months ago and the government chose not to.
If this roof did contain asbestos, then there are very strict rules regarding sealing off areas to ensure no dust escapes. If it looked like these were not being adhered to (e.g. were the workers wearing protective clothing?) then you must report it now. You and any one else could be exposed to the dust. It only takes a single spec to give asbestos related diseases which are extremely unpleasant and it may take 20 years.
I cannot emphasise this strongly enough.
My mate died of mesothelioma 40 years after working in roof spaces as an apprentice. Fear not, I understand the problem.
It’s a serious criminal offence to remove Asbestos without a licence. Also, only licenced Asbestos contractors have access to legal disposal sites, so unlicenced cowboys are likely to have to fly-tip it, causing further problems.