NEW Government regulations to cut down on the risk of exposure to asbestos, and methods to dispose of the dangerous material, will be explained at a workshop at Kington Manor on Thursday March 27.

Organised by Envolve, the sessions will help businesses find out what the asbestos risk is, and exactly how to comply with the new regulations.

The workshop will be held from 9am to 2pm.

More than 3,000 people in the UK die each year from diseases caused by past exposure to asbestos, and by 2010 this figure is expected to rise to nearly 10,000.

A new set of duty- to-manage regulations will come into effect on May 21 2004, and consultants at Envolve, the specialist environmental advice group working alongside Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire, are warning businesses to survey their property for asbestos and take remedial action.

"People who work with asbestos are at risk, particularly those who are involved in the refurbishment, repair or maintenance of buildings like plumbers and carpenters," said Sally Tonkin, environmental business adviser at Envolve.

"It is estimated that over half a million non-domestic premises have some form of asbestos in them, so all companies should consider how these regulations can effect them."

For further information contact Envolve on (01225) 484444.