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date: 23 September 2009

embargo: For immediate release

ASA ruling 'unfortunate' but HSE asbestos campaign still hits the spot

Commenting on the Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) decision today (Wednesday) to uphold a complaint against the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Asbestos: The Hidden Killer campaign, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'The Hidden Killer campaign is one of the most successful information campaigns the HSE has ever run. It was developed with the input of a group of workers with direct knowledge of the hazardous nature of asbestos and the adverts have the full support of unions.

'We know from research the HSE has carried out that the campaign has not only raised awareness of the dangers asbestos poses but it has also changed the behaviour of many of those who have seen the materials.

'The ASA ruling, while unfortunate, does not change the fact that asbestos is the number one occupational killer and that every case of exposure is avoidable with the correct safety procedures.

'The TUC is surprised by the ASA judgement as the HSE fatalities figures have always been regarded as overly cautious and if all premature deaths caused by asbestos are included the figure would almost certainly be much higher. We hope that the HSE will continue to run hard-hitting campaigns like this.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

-In the ruling published today (Wednesday), the ASA has upheld one complaint from a single source challenging the HSE on the number of workers it quoted as dying as a result of exposure to asbestos fibres. The ASA agreed that the use of the numbers for asbestos-related deaths was an effective and appropriate tactic to bring home to tradesmen the serious risks they face in disturbing asbestos, but decided that the HSE should have made clear in its radio advertisements that the figures were based partly on estimates. The ASA also said that the numbers of deaths per week quoted in relation to certain trades should be revised as it considered that they had been overestimated according to the raw data.

- For more information on the campaign visit www.hse.gov.uk/hiddenkiller

- The Hidden Killer campaign was launched in October 2008 and is aimed at raising awareness of the risks posed by asbestos to high risk groups of tradesmen, including plumbers, joiners and electricians.

- The complaint to the ASA was made under RASC section 2 rule 3 which says that 'advertisements must not contain any...claims... which might directly or by implication mislead... 'and' advertisements must clarify any important limitations or qualifications, without which a misleading impression of a product or service might be given.'

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Liz Carridge, HSE Press Office T: 0151 951 4684

Press release (600 words) issued 23 Sep 2009