Silent killer remains at large
ASBESTOS, that deadly material used widely in buildings for insulation and other purposes, was banned in the UK in the 1980s. Many people therefore think that it’s a thing of the past but, sadly, asbestos is now killing more people in Britain than ever before.
According to the Health & Safety Executive, asbestos causes more than 5,000 deaths a year – nearly three times the annual death toll on UK roads. Many victims, an estimated 20 tradespeople a week, die of an asbestos- related disease.
And the numbers are set to increase until 2020 due to the fact it can take anything from 10 to 50 years to develop a lung disease following exposure to asbestos dust and fi bres.
The long period of time between exposure and the development of an asbestos lung disease means many sufferers think it is too late to seek legal and fi nancial assistance after being exposed to the toxic dust.
They often believe that if the company they worked for or the place where they were exposed to asbestos dust, is no longer in existence, then there is no justice available to them. But this is not the case and there are government benefi ts and compensation schemes, as well as insurance companies to assist, if a company cannot be traced.
Colin Tunstall, from the National Asbestos Helpline, says: “Many of our callers diagnosed with a lung disease have no idea about their right to fi nancial benefi ts and compensation.
“The situation is wrong when you remember that the money they’re entitled to could pay for their care, home help, mobility aids and specialist treatments to improve quality of life.”
The medical profession has only recently begun to get a true picture of asbestos’ devastating legacy and the number of asbestos- related deaths is yet to peak, according to research.
Today thousands of hardworking tradespeople are experiencing shortness of breath doing routine tasks, chest pains or persistent coughing. Some put it down to old age or smoking but it could be an asbestos- related disease such as pleural thickening, asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma, in which case they’re entitled to fi nancial support.
The list of tradespeople generally thought to be at high risk of asbestos exposure includes: laggers, pipe- fi tters, electricians, dockworkers, engineers, joiners, plumbers, welders, builders, fi tters and heating engineers, as well as people who have worked alongside them but this list is not exhaustive.
People who have worked in power stations, shipyards, railways and factories may also have been exposed to enough asbestos dust to develop a related lung disease.
There are cases where family members have been exposed to asbestos dust after washing work clothes or simply by contact with asbestos contaminated clothes.
The National Asbestos Helpline takes more than 3,000 calls a year from people affected by asbestos and is a service provided by Birchall Blackburn Law, experts in asbestos- related civil claims.
INFORMATION: Anyone with or being investigated for an asbestos- related disease should contact the National Asbestos Helpline on FREEPHONE 0800 085 3627 or visit nationalasbestos.co.uk