The “Hidden Killer Campaign,” an awareness project about the dangers of asbestos, has finally been launched. The Builders’ union Ucatt, while welcoming the launch of the project, have slammed the government for putting thousands of workers at risk after they axed its introduction four-and-a-half years ago.

The dangers of asbestos were recognised by factory inspectors as long ago as the 1890s, but ruthless employers subjected workers to its dangers for almost a century after the initial warnings.

The mineral is now banned in Europe.

Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy said: “The Conservative-led government’s penny-pinching means that for the last four and a half years, thousands of workers have been needlessly exposed to asbestos and their health put at risk.”

Asbestos causes the incurable lung cancer mesothelioma, which can take over 50 years to show itself.