Former England Captain, Stuart Pearce, has blown the whistle on asbestos after admitting that he could have been exposed to the secret killer when he used to work as an electrician.

Prior to joining Coventry City in 1983, the defender worked as a part-time electrician for four years, where he has revealed that there is a real possibility he could develop a deadly asbestos-related disease later in life.

The former West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United left back said that it is a chilling thought to think what he might have been exposed to.

“I was working as an electrician for four and a half years and it’s chilling to think I could have been exposed to it without knowing, we were simply ignorant about the risks back then,” said Pearce.

Pearce, who was recently dismissed from his role as Nottingham Forest Manager, is now throwing his weight behind a campaign by the Health and Safety Executive, which aims to tackle the ignorance about the hidden killer.

“Today there’s no excuse – most people know how dangerous asbestos is but many think it’s a thing of the past, it’s not, it’s still there.  It can be found in walls, ceilings, even floor tiles and guttering – basically in any type of building built before the year 2000,” added the former England captain.    

“Making sure you’re aware of where it can be found and how to deal with it safely, even on basic jobs like drilling holes or sanding, really could mean the difference between life and death.”

The HSE estimates 1.3 million tradespeople are still potentially at risk of being exposed to the microscopic fibres that can prove fatal if breathed in.

To combat this, it is encouraging workers to use its free web app, which can also be accessed on phones and tablets in order to help tradespeople identify where asbestos can be in close contact during work, and how to deal with it safely.

Pearce, who was capped 78 times for his country and had one game as an England Manager, hopes that the campaign will make asbestos a thing of the past.

“It can be so easy to breathe in this deadly dust and it may be years until you realise you’ve been affected,” added Pearce.

“Every tradesperson that falls victim to asbestos-related diseases, like mesothelioma and asbestosis, is one too many, especially if it’s a result of ignorance. Let’s make asbestos deaths a thing of the past.”

To download the free app visit www.beware-asbestos.info/news