About asbestos
Asbestos is non-flammable, heat resistant, and extremely flexible and durable. It was nicknamed “the magic mineral” because these properties made it suitable for use in thousands of products. Asbestos has also been dubbed “the hidden killer”. When materials containing asbestos are damaged or disturbed, fibres are released into the air. Each fibre is so small it is invisible to the naked eye. When breathed in, the fibres, remain in your body, and can cause several different diseases.
Even today, around 5,000 workers in the UK die each year from asbestos-related diseases. Because they typically take years to develop, more people are still being diagnosed with these diseases each year, even though asbestos is now banned.
In the UK, the import, supply and use of crocidolite (‘blue asbestos’) and amosite (‘brown asbestos’) was banned as of 1st January 1986.
Chrysotile (‘white asbestos’) was similarly banned as of 24th November 1999.
However, many buildings built before these dates still contain asbestos, and so even today people are still being exposed to asbestos.
There are a number of different asbestos-related diseases.
It is important to know which disease you have, as they vary hugely in terms of the impact they may have on your health.
Which disease you have also affects whether you can get industrial injuries benefits from the government, and whether you can sue an employer for compensation.
Asbestos related diseases
Diffuse Pleural Thickening
The pleura is a membrane that surrounds your lungs and lines the inside of your rib cage. After breathing in asbestos fibres, these fibres can work their way out to the pleura, causing scarring and hardening. The pleura then thickens, which can cause breathlessness. If x-ray evidence suggests your pleural thickening is severe enough, you may be able to get industrial injuries benefits and a lump sum payment. You may also be able to get civil compensation.
Pleural Plaques
These are localised areas of thickening caused by asbestos fibres which have worked their way out to the pleura. Pleural plaques are usually symptomless. Pleural plaques are a sign that you have been exposed to asbestos, but you cannot get benefits or compensation for having this disease if your only exposure to asbestos took place in England.
Lung Cancer
Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing lung cancer. However, there are many other causes of lung cancer. You can usually get industrial injuries benefits for lung cancer if you also have asbestosis. If you have lung cancer but no signs of asbestosis, whether you can get industrial injuries benefits, and a lump sum payment, will depend on the type of work you have done as an employee and how long you did it for. You may also be able to sue an employer for civil compensation.
Asbestosis
This refers to scarring and hardening of the lung caused by asbestos fibres. It is sometimes called interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestosis causes breathlessness, and usually progresses slowly. If you have asbestosis, you can usually get industrial injuries benefits and a lump sum payment. You may also be able to get civil compensation.
Mesothelioma
This is a type of cancer that begins in the pleura or in the lining of the abdominal cavity. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma can develop even in people who have had relatively little exposure to asbestos. If you have mesothelioma, you can usually get a lump sum payment from the Government and Industrial Injuries Benefit if you’ve been exposed to asbestos through work. You may also be able to get civil compensation.