Who is at risk?
Those who are or have been at most risk will be people working in the construction industry. In the past asbestos materials have been used for strengthening concrete and plastics as well as insulation in walls and ceilings. Two of the three main forms of asbestos (amosite and crocidolite) were banned in 1985, while Chrysotile was banned in 1999.
Because of when the bans came into action, It puts those who worked in construction before 1999 at much greater risk of developing asbestos. Since the ban it has been removed from many buildings, particularly where it had been used as insulation.
Obviously anyone involved in this is at risk too, but the risk in theory should be reduced because they would have worked under the knowledge that it is dangerous and could protect themselves from inhaling it.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of asbestosis include:
- a persistent cough
- wheezing
- chest pain
- fatigue (extreme tiredness)
- shortness of breath (may occur following physical activity, but may develop into something more consistent)
- clubbed/swollen fingertips (in advanced cases)
What exactly are asbestos related diseases?
The word asbestos is a general term used to describe a group of minerals of microscopic fibres. When inhaled these fibres enter the lungs and over time cause damage. This damage is called asbestosis. While it can slowly damage peoples health or lower life expectancy, it sometimes causes little or no harm.
However it does put a person at greater risk of developing life threatening conditions. The Asbestos Advice Helpline outlines the four conditions as asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma or pleural thickening.
Mesothelioma symptoms often take 40-50 years to present themselves, so despite the length of time since the last form of asbestos material was made illegal, there could be many more people found with the symptoms in years to come.
What you are entitled to
There are two ways to discover what you are entitled to. The first is to approach an Asbestos claims specialist. They can help you track down the employer liable for your illness and go about the relevant legal proceedings to get you the correct compensation. However if they cannot find the relevant person or employer (s) then the second option can also get you the compensation you deserve
In April 2014, Parliament introduced a new £123,000 compensation scheme for those affected by asbestos, but had failed to track down a previous employer. This was introduced following the shocking figures saying over 300 people a year were effected with Mesothelioma, yet couldn’t find their previous employer due to companies becoming insolvent or insurance records disappearing.
Upon the Mesothelioma Act being passed, Work and Pensions Minister Mike Penning commented “This will end years of injustice for mesothelioma victims and their families who have had to endure this terrible disease with little hope of any compensation from the insurance industry.”
Hopefully the above information has improved your understanding of Asbestos related illnesses. If you feel you may suffer from any of the related symptoms, you should visit your local GP as soon as you can.
