Asbestosis
Asbestosis
Asbestos has been in use as insulation material and a fire retardant since the late 1800’s. It was widely used in many industries. The harmful effects of asbestos were recognised legally in 1931 but the use of asbestos was not restricted in the UK until the 1980s.
Many employers’ health and safety measures did not protect their workers sufficiently from the effects of exposure. As a result there are an increasing number of people suffering from diseases caused by asbestos and currently up to 3000 deaths a year from exposure to asbestos and related illnesses. This figure is forecast by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to increase until between 2015 & 2020.
According to the HSE, the ten occupations found to have the highest risk of Mesothelioma, the most serious Asbestos related cancer, based on deaths between 1980 and 2000 were:
- Metal Plate Workers
- Vehicle Body Builders
- Plumbers and Gas Fitters
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Electrical Plant Operators
- Production Fitters
- Construction Workers
- Electrical Engineers
These occupations were associated largely with the following occupations using Asbestos:
- Railway engine and carriage building
- Construction – Especially installing insulation
- Shipbuilding
- Oil refineries
- Textiles
- Car brake pad manufacture
- Power generation
We work for victims of Industrial Disease on a NO WIN NO FEE basis (conditional fee agreement). With a great deal of experience in asbestos related cases our objective is always to recover maximum compensation based on a claimant’s personal circumstances.
