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.
Heptonstalls LLP work for victims of industrial disease. 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.
If you would like more information about making a NO WIN NO FEE compensation claim, call 0800 413018 to speak one of our specialist solicitors.
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