We've become the first organisation in Shropshire, and the first Housing Trust nationally to be accredited by the United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), to deliver asbestos training.

The Trust is now approved to provide general training on asbestos to in-house staff, external contractors and other organisations.

Tim Munro, HR Consultant at the Trust says "Every week twenty trades people across the U.K. die from asbestos related conditions.  The work of nearly all building workers and self employed maintenance workers brings them into contact with this potentially dangerous building material.  We regularly runs bespoke and general training courses for staff and other external organisations, including health and safety courses, so it makes sense that asbestos awareness is offered as part of the training portfolio.  The Trust has always placed the management of asbestos as a high priority and this accreditation is the latest recognition of this.  Trades employees from all organisations may visit buildings where asbestos is present, so it's important that they are asbestos aware."

The Wrekin Housing Trust, an Investors in People accredited organisation, has achieved the ROSPA Gold Health and Safety Award as well as other national awards for the health and safety training it delivers.  Training can be provided at either the our Training and Development Centre or clients premises.   In becoming qualified to offer asbestos training, we will help ensure that best working practices and training are available to all organisations in the region.

By ensuring all Trust employees, contractors and partners are aware of the presence of asbestos and how to deal with it will help keep tenants and employees safe whilst improving customer care and satisfaction with services.

Currently we have category 3 membership to UKATA, which means we can train all employees whose work could anticipate exposure to asbestos, including company directors, managers and supervisors to tradesmen, engineers and contractors.  The Trust will be working hard over the next six months to gain category 2 membership, which will enable training to be given to personnel such as roofing contractors, demolition workers and general maintenance staff for work with asbestos that does not require a licence.

For more information about asbestos training, please contact Tim Munro on 01952 217026 or visit www.ukata.org.uk