CONSTRUCTION union Ucatt revealed yesterday that six of its members have been exposed to deadly asbestos while working for a contractor in Bicester.

The union said the six workers were told by Sanctuary Maintenance Contractors Ltd, a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing, to work on an empty Sanctuary home in the Oxfordshire town.

They asked management if there was asbestos in the property and were told there was not — despite Sanctuary having a record of the presence of asbestos.

They discovered asbestos as they removed a ceiling.

Asbestos causes mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lung. Death usually occurs within two years of diagnosis. It can take decades for the disease to be revealed.

The workers made statements about the incident, but said the company sought to alter them.

Since the exposure another company has worked on the property, but Ucatt said the disturbed asbestos may still not have been removed thoroughly.

The union said it asked for a meeting with Sanctuary Maintenance to seek assurances that such needless exposure will not reoccur but the company refused to meet the union.

Ucatt London and South East regional organiser Paul Lomax said: “The company’s performance has been lamentable.

Workers have been needlessly exposed to asbestos.

“Rather than ensuring this never happens again the company is literally trying to sweep the entire matter under the carpet.”

Asbestos was identified as a serious health hazard by factory inspectors in the 1890s, but employers and manufacturers continued to use the mineral into the 1980s.

peterlazenby@peoples-press.com