IMPORTANT guidance to help tackle the North-East's biggest industrial killer was unveiled yesterday, in a drive to prevent thousands of deaths in the maintenance and building trades.

The rules, which comes into effect in May 2004, call on those with responsibility for the repair and maintenance of non-domestic premises to find out if they contain materials which contain asbestos.

They require them to record the location and condition of materials, and assess and manage any risk. This includes passing the information to anyone liable to disturb them.

Health and safety inspector Eileen Anderson, who outlined the new guidance in Newcastle yesterday, said: "These regulations are the final piece in a jigsaw of asbestos legislation."

Owners of smaller businesses need not rush out immediately to carry out surveys, but could start by checking builders' invoices and talking to architects to see if they are aware of the presence of asbestos.

If people are not sure that a suspect material is asbestos, they should assume it is until otherwise established.

Mrs Anderson stressed that asbestos in good condition, which was unlikely to be disturbed, should be left in place.

Nick Brown, the Government Minister with responsibility for health and safety, said last night: "Asbestos is the most serious occupational health problem, in terms of fatal disease, that the country faces.

"In the 30 years between 1968 and 1998, 50,000 people died in the UK from asbestos-related diseases."

He added: "The human suffering and misery behind those terrible figures continue today."

A free guide, INDG223, is available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, or telephone (01787) 881165.