Action against asbestosis needed
A long-standing asbestos campaigner is hoping to roll out a new initiative that will hopefully lead to more importance being given to asbestos in both schools and workplaces.
The man, whose primary school teacher wife, tragically died from asbestos related illnesses nearly ten years ago, said that it was of vital importance to make sure that all premises are made safe for both children and employees.
This recent uptick in campaigning comes after a number of recent cases that have led to personal injury awards for former workers who suffered fatal or near-fatal diseases after being exposed to the substance in a workplace.
Campaign issues warning
The “asbestos in schools campaign is one of a number of separate campaigns across the country, which have their aim as pressuring the government to fulfil their duties to the public by protecting them from harmful asbestos exposure.
The man behind the campaign said that the different assessments of how to deal with the problem could show that the government are not taking as proactive a stance as they should be. Unions have long called for total removal of asbestos from all public buildings, but particularly schools, but government guidelines suggest that managing the risk is more appropriate.
The campaign head though, notes that some schools may not be following safe procedures for managing the threat and perhaps it would be a better idea to remove the asbestos completely before more cases of Mesothelioma and asbestosis are caused.
“It needs to be determined what sort of asbestos there is in these schools. I'm sure some of them will only have an old bike shed or something with asbestos in. However, there will be cases where the asbestos is deteriorating and the teachers, but more worryingly the children, will be exposed to it," he said.
Injury awards across the country
Recent cases involving asbestos exposure have led to a number of injury compensation awards for plaintiffs, even when former employers are no longer in business. One man, who developed asbestosis after working as builder for two different companies, recently sued for work accident compensation and won around £20,000 despite the fact that both companies are no longer trading.
One of the injury lawyers who represented the man said that although he did receive some of the compensation that he was owed, the fact that the companies had gone out of business meant that he only received a percentage of the amount that he could have won otherwise.
“The two employers agreed to accept 79% liability for this client’s development of asbestosis after having originally only offered 59%,” said Lorna Webster from a law firm.
Asbestosis is a disease of the lungs that leaves the tissue inflamed and has a number of serious side-effects including shortness of breath, loss of stamina and an increased risk of developing another form of lung cancer.
Another claim that has been making its way through the legal system involves a former employee of the Longbridge car plant who developed Mesothelioma, and whose lawyer says could only be the tip of the iceberg in claims from the site.
“We have got a client who was exposed to asbestos dust and we are looking for witnesses. But this issue isn’t one that’s particular to one person. There could be hundreds of other people who are at risk” said solicitor Sofia Yousaf.
Updated on 9/15/2009