Asbestosis - Industrial Disease & Accidents at Work Compensation
Asbestos exposure can cause serious diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. If you breathe asbestos fibres into your lungs, some of the fibres will be deposited in the air passages and on the cells that make up your lungs. Some fibres remain trapped in the lungs, causing severe respiratory damage. Fibres that clear the lungs are carried away in a layer of mucus to the throat, where they are swallowed into the stomach. They may become stuck in the membranes lining the stomach or intestines, or be distributed throughout the body via the blood. Wherever the fibres are, they have the potential to promote genetic “errors” in cell division that can lead to cancer.
The most common diseases caused by asbestos exposure are:
- Malignant Mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer that affects the thin membranes lining the abdomen and chest.
- Asbestos Lung Cancer - The two most common types of lung cancer are small - cell and non - small cell cancer.
- Asbestosis - a non-malignant disease that causes scarring of the lung tissue.
- Asbestos Pleural Disease - a non-malignant disease that causes scarring of the thin membranes lining the lung and chest.
Asbestos can also cause cancer of the digestive tract, colon, larynx, esophagus, kidney and some types of lymphoma. These asbestos diseases may be due to swallowing some of the longer asbestos fibres that are caught in the upper airways and that are carried to the throat in mucus.
Exposed workers
The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steam pipes, hot water pipes, and incinerators. Asbestos dust collects around these areas and in poorly ventilated compartments of a ship. During World War II, many workers employed in shipyards were heavily exposed to asbestos in ships and buildings. In later years, those who worked around asbestos - contaminated pipes, boilers, and other items in shipyards were also exposed to asbestos dust. Overhauling an old ship, which most likely contains asbestos, poses a very high health risk.
Longshoremen, or those who load ships, were also exposed to asbestos when handling items such as asbestos–containing insulation and fireproofing materials. Before the 1980s, they may even have loaded bundles of asbestos fibres. In most cases, they were not aware of the dangerous nature of these materials, and did not take any special precautions.
Construction workers
All types of construction workers may come into contact with asbestos during maintenance, remodelling, or demolition of old buildings. A construction worker can also unwittingly place family members in danger by exposing them to asbestos dust that is carried home on the worker’s clothing or body.
Insulators
Insulators may cement, staple, wire, tape or spray asbestos insulation in buildings to reduce energy use. They also install materials in refrigerated storage rooms, vats, vessels, boilers, and steam and hot water pipes to prevent the transfer of heat. Another method employed by insulators is to use compressors to blow loose–fill insulation into house attics or exterior walls of uninsulated buildings. Insulators generally work indoors, and the job is often dusty and dirty. Small particles from insulation materials, especially when blown, can get into the insulator’s eyes, skin, and respiratory system. They were often heavily exposed to the asbestos in insulation materials.
Today, removing asbestos insulation in remodelling or demolition projects can be especially risky and appropriate precautions should be taken. Workers must follow prescribed asbestos removal techniques including sealing and depressurizing the area that contains asbestos and removing it using special filtration cleaners and devices. They should wear protective suits, masks, and respirators. Work areas should be well ventilated.
Sheet Metal Workers
Sheet metal workers install and maintain ducts used for ventilating, air conditioning, and heating systems. They also are involved with roofing, siding, gutters, and down spouts. In their work, they may have been exposed to asbestos insulation or asbestos - containing tiles used in roofing. In many Cities, for example, many sheet metal workers used Zonolite, an insulating material made from asbestos - contaminated vermiculite ore.
Plumbers and Pipefitters
Plumbers install and repair the water, waste disposal, drainage, and gas systems in homes and in commercial and industrial buildings. Pipefitters install and repair pipe systems that are used in manufacturing, in the generation of electricity, and in heating and cooling buildings.
Plumbers and pipefitters are often exposed to asbestos - cement pipes used for water and sewer lines, drainage, and ventilation. Asbestos insulation has been used around pipes, and asbestos mud was used to fill in cracks and elbows on pipes. Also, they may have removed deteriorated asbestos pipe covering; replacing it with new pipe covering.
Electricians
Electricians may have been exposed to asbestos–containing pipe, electrical insulation, or building insulation. They are also subject to exposure when doing maintenance or remodelling work in older buildings that are contaminated with asbestos.
Drywall Installers
Many dry wall products, such as joint compound, contained asbestos which could be inhaled while mixing the dry compounds and when sanding the walls. Asbestos also is contained in some dry wall tape, plaster, and wall - patching compounds. Blown ceilings are another source of asbestos contamination.
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Worried about asbestos
Date Posted : 25/03/2010
I'm just going off my recent experience, but you need to ask them for all the protective gear you can get your hands on. Masks, gloves, tools even training. I didnt get any of that until years later - won't bore you with the details but I wish I had got some protection sooner. Claiming against them now. It's their duty to provide you with the right kit!
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Teacher in Asbestos school
Date Posted : 15/10/2009
For more info on this check out
www.od-ca.co.uk
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Teacher in Asbestos school
Date Posted : 27/08/2009
The first thing you need to do is to visit your GP. We are increasingly seeing a number of chest/asbestos claims coming in from school teachers and other employees in the education sector.
Asbestos was commonly used from the 1950s to the mid 1980s. Asbestos and asbestos containing materials (ACMs) may be found in schools/colleges built or refurbished before asbestos was banned in 1985. Residual stocks could have been in existence in builders yards and used well after the ban. Some asbestos containing materials such as asbestos cement were still used up until 1999.
Your should check out our Asbestos section on the site, or simply give us a call - and we'll be able to give you more, free advice on your situation.
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Teacher in Asbestos school
Date Posted : 18/08/2009
If you're more "worried about your health"...go to your doctor's for a scan!
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Worried about asbestos
Date Posted : 15/08/2009
Hi, I work as a sparky. Just started out. Read a lot about asbestos and how dangerous it can be. Want to know want protective measures should the company provide. (didnt want to ask the company yet, dont want to be a pain - only started about a week)
any advice?
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Families of Merseyside asbestos victims secure landmark court ruling
Date : 10 Mar 2011
TWO families have won groundbreaking legal claims to compensation for their Merseyside relatives’ exposure to asbestos.
In separate cases, relatives of Huyton mother-of-two Dianne Willmore and Eastham-based Enid Costello were awarded damages after convincing courts their deaths were related to “low level” asbestos exposure.
Last night, legal experts said the Supreme Court ruling could pave the way for similar claims nationwide.
Mrs Willmore, 49, was awarded £240,000 damages after convincing a High Court judge in July, 2009, that her time as a pupil at the former Bowring Comprehensive School, in Huyton, caused her incurable lung cancer.
Source : www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk
Link : http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/03/10/families-of-merseyside-asbestos-victims-secure-landmark-court-ruling-92534-28311231/
Virgin lounge masseuses sue airline after developing RSI
Date : 10 Mar 2011
Beauty therapists Jayne Evans, 40, and Michelle Hindmarch, 35, each developed chronic muscular strain – including pain in their shoulders, upper back and wrists – after giving intensive shiatsu massages at the airline’s Terminal 3 “Clubhouse” lounge at Heathrow.
Their barrister, Theodore Huckle, told the High Court that both women were “devastated” at being forced to abandon their careers as a result of their injuries.
Muscular aches and pains mean the women cannot carry out a range of household tasks including peeling carrots or “taking the Sunday roast out of the oven”, the court heard.
Mrs Evans, who still works for Virgin Atlantic on the administrative side, is seeking £327,000 compensation from the airline for exposing her to the risk of injury, while Mrs Hindmarch is claiming £235,000 in damages.
Source : www.telegraph.co.uk
Link : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8366027/Virgin-lounge-masseuses-sue-airline-after-developing-RSI.html
Company fined after exposing workers and the public to asbestos
Date : 08 Mar 2011
A refurbishment company has been fined after workers and the public were exposed to asbestos in a Leicestershire village
Shengxuan Company Ltd was converting a shop in Borough Street, Castle Donington, into a restaurant on 16 June 2010.
Part of the work involved converting an integral garage into a storeroom but in doing so, workers disturbed asbestos-containing materials. This was then put in a skip by the workers, who were unaware of its presence or its risks.
Source : www.hse.gov.uk
Link : http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-em-16111.htm