Asbestos

Asbestos was known to have harmful effects as far back as 1898, yet employers were still exposing staff to it more than 80 years later.

If you have been exposed to asbestos at some time in your life then it is possible that you may have contracted an asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma or emphysema.

There are several types of asbestos and, although it is now banned from being used in the United Kingdom, its past use has been so widespread that the dangerous dust still exists in many buildings today.

There are different types of asbestos related disease and each condition varies in severity. The conditions include Pleural Plaques, Pleural Thickening, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer and Asbestosis.   Asbestosis is sometimes misused as a general term for any asbestos related disease or asbestos related illness. It is very important to establish from the outset which asbestos related illness has been diagnosed.

Exposure to asbestos fibres has been recognised as an occupational health hazard since the early 1900s. As well as those who have been exposed to asbestos at work, family members and others living with anyone employed in an asbestos contaminated workplace may have an increased risk of developing the fatal asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma.

The first compensation claims against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many compensation claims have been made against asbestos manufacturers and employers for failing to implement safety measures as soon as the link between asbestos exposure and diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma became known.

Regardless of which asbestos related condition has been diagnosed, if it can be proven that it was caused by exposure to asbestos by a negligent party, then (with the exception of pleural plaques) it may be possible to make a personal injury claim for compensation. A recent House of Lords decision means pleural plaques are no longer compensatable. However; if you, or any member of your family, has been diagnosed with pleural plaques, you should still seek advice.

Where asbestos is found

Before people became aware of the dangers of asbestos, it was popular as a fireproof building material in the UK. It was used extensively from the 1950s through to the middle of the 1980s, when its dangers were acknowledged. Asbestos has now been banned for most purposes in the developed world and today much of the material has been removed. However, there is still an estimated half a million non-domestic properties which currently have some form of asbestos in them, according to the Health and Safety Executive.

Asbestos is now known to contribute to the development of several forms of lung disease amongst those who have been in contact with the material. These include mesothelioma, lung cancer and emphysema.

Asbestos can be found in buildings in the following places:

• Garage roof and wall panels
• Bitumen roofing felt
• Roof tiles
• Insulation material in heating systems, such as moulded or pre-formed sprayed coatings and lagging
• Airing cupboard linings, shelving and doors
• Flue pipes
• Wall and floor coverings, such as thermal plastic floor tiles
• Textured coating, such as artex
• Storage heaters
• Ironing boards
• Some ceiling tiles
• Fire protection in ducts, fire breaks, insulation boards. This comes in the form of sprayed asbestos with hydrated asbestos cement.