Our Specialist Solicitors have extensive experience in handling claims for most forms of Industrial Disease. These include but are not limited to Asbestos, Respiratory Diseases, Dermatitis and skin conditions and Industrial Deafness.

Asbestos has been in the news again recently with reports that the incidence of asbestos related illness in on the rise. Below is a brief note of the background to the use of and exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos was once the “magic mineral” of the industrial age and was used throughout the world. It was used for pipe and boiler lagging, brake shoes, conveyor belts, tiles, roofing, wallboards, cement, ironing boards, oven gloves, fireproof insulation in power stations, ships, railway carriages, cinemas, theatres, offices and homes. It provided protection from fire. Huge numbers of people were employed cutting, spraying and lagging asbestos to make all of these things in factories and shipyards. The factories and shipyards used asbestosis so that the dust from the asbestos could be seen thick in the air and coated the clothes of some workers so much that they were known as “White Men”. What the employers of all of these workers did not say was and is dangerous. It can be a killer. Little or no protection from exposure to asbestos was given to the workers or their families. The dangers of asbestos were long known about but ignored by industry leaving thousands of workers years later to suffer from and even die from a range of asbestos related illnesses.

There are now strict regulations and even bans on the use of asbestos. But the damage has already been done through the exposure to asbestos many years ago when the victim was either working directly with asbestos material or working in an area where asbestos was being used or stripped out. Trades such as pipe laggers, electricians, plumbers and joiners at the shipyard, power stations, and other large construction sites were likely to have been exposed.

There are a range of asbestos related illnesses, not all of which are fatal. It is possible to claim compensation even if the asbestos condition is not giving rise to any specific symptoms at present.

Exposure probably occurred many years ago. The company you worked for may have gone out of business. This may not prevent a claim if the relevant Insurers can be traced. If the company has gone out of business and the Insurers cannot be traced then your claim may not succeed. You should, however, take legal advise as soon as you become aware of, or have been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. If you do not do so and legal proceedings are not issued within three years of your diagnosis, then any claim you have may fail.

Please contact the office to discuss a potential claim with one of our experienced Solicitor’s.