18/06/2026
🔵 **Men’s Health Week 2026: Protecting Health at Work** 🔵
This week is Men’s Health Week (15–21 June), an important opportunity to raise awareness of the health risks that continue to affect many workers across construction, manufacturing and skilled trades.
⚠️ Did you know?
Men working in trades such as electrical engineering, carpentry, joinery, plumbing, heating, ventilation, flooring and tiling face a higher risk of developing mesothelioma, a cancer caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos.
Although asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, it can still be found in many buildings built or refurbished before 2000. Routine maintenance, repairs and renovation work can disturb asbestos-containing materials and create a risk of exposure.
Know the Symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades to develop and may include:
✔ Chest pain or shortness of breath
✔ Persistent cough or hoarse voice
✔ Difficulty swallowing
✔ Fatigue and night sweats
✔ Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
✔ Clubbing of the fingertips
If you or a colleague are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical advice from your GP.
Let's Start the Conversation
Men’s Health Week is also a reminder that health isn't just about physical safety. Mental health, well-being, and early intervention are equally important.
As employers, managers and colleagues, we can make a difference by:
✅ Encouraging open conversations about health
✅ Raising awareness of asbestos risks
✅ Ensuring safe systems of work are followed
✅ Supporting employees to seek help when needed
Awareness today could protect someone's future health tomorrow.
