In my last post Tinnitus: Noise Nuisance Could Signal Industrial Deafness I mentioned how living on the outskirts of Cambridge means I get to mix the delights of countryside living, with the cultural benefits of living in a city; fine dining, clubs, gigs, museums, galleries - the list goes on.
Whether in the country or in the heart of the city, another great benefit of living in this part of the world is the architecture - from villages filled with rows of 'chocolate-box' thatched cottages, to the stunning world-renowned classical architecture of colleges such as Trinity and Kings.
I think I'm especially appreciative of the architecture, because I grew up surrounded by the soul-crushing 'modern' architecture of the 60's. I've since learned that many of the buildings I grew up around could be classified as being in the aptly named 'Brutalist' style - 'rough and blocky' buildings like my junior school, which was made mostly of concrete, glass, steel and... Asbestos.
Asbestos has been a source of controversy for decades - perhaps even centuries.
The use of Asbestos as a building material was widely adopted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly within industrial and public buildings, leading to the risk of disease being spread across decades. The threat lies in the tiny crytallised particles of Asbestos dust, which can get trapped in the lungs. The material lies dormant in the building, usually in the form of large sheets. It's usually only when the sheets of Asbestos become damaged or are broken up for removal and dust is created, that the risk becomes active.
Asbestos has been a controversial material for decades - perhaps even centuries; the weaving of Asbestos cloth was thought to be the cause of a 'sickness of the lungs' amongst slaves by Greeks and Romans in the first century. In the 1950's, executives in American industrial companies censored research and memos that linked their Asbestos products with diseases such as Mesothelioma in order to protect their hugely profitable companies from financial ruin.
It's believed that more than 1,000 tons of Asbestos were released into the air during the destruction of the World Trade Centre in New York following the "9/11" terrorist attack.
2014 marks the ninetieth year since the very first Asbestosis diagnosis, which was made in the UK. Since then, many other conditions including Lung Cancer, Fibrosis and Mesothelioma have been linked to the material and yet incredibly, people are still being put at risk by exposure to asbestos.
Recent legal cases include a plumber who was fined for putting a family at risk, a decorating company found guilty of exposing employees, agency staff and members of the public to potentially fatal asbestos material and a leading hotel chain was ordered to pay Asbestos Compensation after putting construction workers and guests at risk in one of their hotels.
Industrial Accidents Involving Asbestos
Diagnosis of Asbestosis and Mesothelioma are classed as industrial accidents; often occurring due to poor working conditions, the use of unsafe equipment, a lack of protective equipment, or poor working environment. These and other diseases caused by exposure to Asbestos such as Lung Cancer, Fibrosis and Asthma can often be avoided by an employer checking if a building has Asbestos and if so to providing the correct protective equipment.
The results from exposure to Asbestos often take many years to show themselves. In the case of Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of internal organs, people do not develop symptoms of the disease until about 30 or 40 years after exposure and there is no known cure. Cases in the UK have been rising in recent years, however because of the delay in developing symptoms, some workers who were negligently exposed to asbestos at work find it difficult to trace an employer or insurer who is liable to pay Asbestosis Compensation.
Mesothelioma facts
- Deaths from Mesothelioma continue to increase in the UK
- Most deaths occurring now are a legacy of past occupational exposures to asbestos when it was widely used in the building industry.
- The number of Mesothelioma deaths has increased from 153 in 1968 to 2,347 in 2010
- Annual deaths are expected peak in 2016
- High risk jobs include carpenters, plumbers, electricians, pipe fitters and metal workers
Source: Health and Safety Executive
If you are suffering from Mesothelioma (or any type of illness or injury) caused by exposure to Asbestos as the result of others negligence then you may have the right to seek Asbestos compensation. As with other personal injury claims there is a 3 year timescale within which these need to be made, but this starts from when the diagnosis was made, not from when the exposure occurred.
If you would like to talk to someone about your situation, or that of a family member or friend, then our friendly specialist advisors are on hand. There is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.
If you have a genuine claim, contact a genuine company.
May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770
If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.
Call us now on 0800 756 7774 and talk to us to find out if you have a claim - or fill in our Quick Claim form (on the right of this page).
http://info.mayiclaim.co.uk/personal_injury_compensation_claim_news/bid/297244/Asbestosis-Mesothelioma-Architectural-Heritage-We-Could-Do-Without
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