UK asbestos threat remains underestimated despite 5,000 annual deaths, says Shield

With around 5,000 deaths annually, asbestos remains the leading cause of work-related fatalities in Great Britain, surpassing many other widely publicised health and safety risks. Despite this, the material remains widespread, embedded in an estimated 1.5 million buildings nationwide.

The danger is not confined to ageing industrial sites or large demolition projects. In reality, the greatest risk often lies in everyday environments – schools, offices, homes and in routine maintenance work where asbestos-containing materials are unknowingly disturbed.

Schools present one of the starkest examples. Around 80% of UK schools are believed to contain asbestos, raising ongoing concerns about long-term exposure risks for staff, contractors, and pupils.

Meanwhile, tradespeople continue to pay the price. According to the Health and Safety Executive, more than 20 workers every week die from diseases caused by past exposure.

For Shield Services Group, the data points to a critical issue: inconsistent standards across the industry, particularly when it comes to smaller-scale work.

Luke House, Chairman of Shield Services Group, said: “The numbers should be a wake-up call. Five thousand deaths a year isn’t a legacy issue as it’s happening right now.

“What’s most concerning is where the risk still exists. It’s not just on major demolition sites, it’s in everyday buildings and smaller jobs where asbestos is often overlooked or underestimated. That’s where people are being exposed.

“If the industry is serious about reducing these figures, we need to treat every job, no matter how small, with the same level of care, control, and accountability.”

Shield Services Group delivers asbestos removal across projects of all sizes, from single-property works to complex commercial sites, reflecting the reality that exposure risk does not discriminate by project scale.

Alongside this, the company is embedding social value into its operations, ensuring that asbestos removal also contributes to local employment, training, and community outcomes.