Recent research conducted by the HSE shows young tradesmen, such as plumbers and electricians, know asbestos is dangerous but don't believe they are personally at risk.

Every year 4,000 people die of asbestos, which is more than those in road accidents. In Great Britain we are in the middle of an epidemic and it is expected asbestos deaths will peak at 5,000 a year as a legacy to years gone by.

Launching the awareness campaign "Asbestos - the hidden killer", aimed at young tradesmen, Judith Hackitt, of the Health and Safety Commission said: "Every week six electricians and three plumbers die as a result of exposure to asbestos.

"The problem today is that we associate it with a problem that's been and gone as asbestos is now banned. People regard asbestos as something only a previous generation were exposed to but there is a real risk the younger generation entering the workforce will think this does not apply to them - but it does.

"If they work on any building built or refurbished before the year 2000 it could contain asbestos."

HSE's campaign will remind tradesmen that unless they take precautions asbestos could kill them too.

Supporting HSE's campaign Dame Helena Shovelton, of the British Lung Foundation said: "It is alarming to see tradesmen know so little about the damage asbestos can do to their health, especially when they are the ones most at risk.

"The British Lung Foundation is urging tradesmen to make sure they are well informed about asbestos and to follow HSE's guidance in order to protect themselves from this hidden killer."