Asbestos Risk To Trades People
Cases are set to peak between 2011 and 2015 as the disease generally develops between 15 and 60 years after exposure - many of those who will develop the disease will have been exposed to asbestos before the dangers of mesothelioma were widely known.
Trades people such as builders, plumbers, carpenters, gas fitters and electricians are particularly at risk as they may experience exposure to asbestos without being aware of it.
The report carried out by the British Lung Foundation drew attention to the fact that many trades people are unaware of the potential risks. Less than a third of those asked were aware that asbestos exposure can cause cancer while nearly a third wrongly believed that most asbestos had been removed from UK buildings.
Perhaps most worryingly, nearly 75% of those asked have had no training in how to deal with asbestos.
The report was commissioned by the British Lung Foundation in time for Action Mesothelioma Day on February 27th, part of the campaign to raise public awareness and understanding of the disease and improve treatment of mesothelioma sufferers.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is nearly always caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a specific disease caused by asbestos and is a thickening of the lining of the lungs (the pleura). It develops into a tumour in the pleura (the lining of the lungs) and can grow into the stomach.
What Are The Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
Symptoms usually include breathlessness, check and back pain, wheezing and coughing, loss of appetite and weight loss lungs. There is usually a build up of fluid (called a pleural effusion) and this may need to be removed with surgery called pleurodesis.
What Action Should I Take?
If you or someone you know has Mesothelioma, it is important that they seek the immediate assistance of a solicitor so that steps can be taken to quantify the claim or bring the claim to court as soon as possible so that money is made available during the lifetime of the injured party. It is also important to obtain as much information as possible as soon as possible.
Is There A Time Limit For A Mesothelioma Claim?
It is important to be aware that you have 3 years from the date when you are aware of your condition or that it was associated with exposure to asbestos in which to ensure that court proceedings are issued. If the person has unfortunately died, the estate have 3 years from the date of the death in which to ensure that court proceedings are issued.
If you have suffered an injury through your working practices, often over a long period of time, you need expert advice to decide whether you can claim compensation for you injuries and expenses.
For further information, please visit http://www.1stclaims.co.uk.
About the Author
http://www.1stclaims.co.uk is run by a non-practising Personal Injury Solicitor with over 14 years personal injury claims experience. We use this first hand knowledge of the Personal Injury Claim system to hand select the very best personal injury solicitors for you. We deal in a range of claims, including personal injury claims and compensation.
Asbestos Risk to Trades People
Mesothelioma, the cancer caused by asbestos, kills one people every five hours in the UK; twenty trades people die of the disease every week, making the disease Britain’s worst workplace killer.
Cases are set to peak between 2011 and 2015 as the disease generally develops between 15 and 60 years after exposure - many of those who will develop the disease will have been exposed to asbestos before the dangers of mesothelioma were widely known.
Trades people such as builders, plumbers, carpenters, gas fitters and electricians are particularly at risk as they may experience exposure to asbestos without being aware of it.
The report carried out by the British Lung Foundation drew attention to the fact that many trades people are unaware of the potential risks. Less than a third of those asked were aware that asbestos exposure can cause cancer while nearly a third wrongly believed that most asbestos had been removed from UK buildings.
Perhaps most worryingly, nearly 75% of those asked have had no training in how to deal with asbestos.
The report was commissioned by the British Lung Foundation in time for Action Mesothelioma Day on February 27th, part of the campaign to raise public awareness and understanding of the disease and improve treatment of mesothelioma sufferers.
We deal in a range of claims, including personal injury claims and compensation.
About the Author
http://www.1stclaims.co.uk is run by a non-practising Personal Injury Solicitor with over 14 years personal injury claims experience.
Learn the Asbestos Laws and Occupations at Risk
In the 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency added to those laws by banning any new uses for it, although laws still allowed for the use of it in any way that existed prior to that time. Despite the attention given to asbestos exposure, beginning with those laws, there are still many people who are unaware of what it is or what harm it presents to those who are exposed to it.
Unfortunately, asbestos exposure can carry significant health risks, some of which are untreatable and incurable at the present time. Asbestos Cancer (Mesothelioma) & Asbestosis Asbestosis
* Asbestosis is a non-cancerous, chronic lung illness caused by exposure to asbestos.
* Significant exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and non-malignant lung and pleural disorders. * Risk depends on duration, frequency, concentration, & type of asbestos fibres.
* Diseases from asbestos exposure take a long time to develop. Most cases of asbestosis occur in asbestos workers 15 or more years after initial exposure to asbestos. * Smoking greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer in workers exposed to asbestos (although smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma).
Mesothelioma (asbestos cancer)
* Mesothelioma is a rare cancer which may affect the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). * Most mesotheliomas are caused by exposure to asbestos. * Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after the first exposure to asbestos. * Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women. * Risk increases with age.
Symptoms & Signs
* Shortness of breath (this is the primary symptom) * A persistent and productive cough
* Chest tightness
* Chest pain * Loss of appetite/weight loss
* A crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. Diagnosis * History of asbestos exposure.
* Chest X-rays are the most common method of detecting asbestos-related disorders.
* Other tests:
* Physical Examination Pulmonary Function Tests Biiopsy/Bronchoscopy CT scan
Treatment
Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Another source of asbestos litigation is for mesothelioma, which is a cancer that develops in the protective lining of the body’s major organs. The two most common forms are pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the lungs, and pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the heart.
Despite centuries of asbestos mining and usage, asbestos exposure has only recently been recognized as a health hazard. Because symptoms of exposure can take 10 to 50 years to show up, it took medical professionals a great deal of time to connect the disease to it.
As asbestos litigation becomes more common, the use of this substance has, in most applications, declined. Asbestos fibers are still legal, despite the hazards of exposure, only if manufacturers follow all legally required safety standards.
About the Author
Zachary Nyakundi is an expert writer in a variety of topics. For more information on Asbestos Laws and Occupations at Risk , visit his site at http://asbestos-laws-and-risks.blogspot.com/
Occupational Asbestos Risk Raise Mesothelioma Concerns
Asbestos Risk in The Work Place
Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, used to be the predominant form of asbestos that was used commercially; amphiboles were of minor commercial importance. Asbestos fibers do not have any detectable odor or taste. It does not dissolve in water or evaporate and are resistant to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation. In terms of building material, it was considered resistant to degradation by salt air, damp and heat - ideal for seaside conditions.
These properties cause the management of environmental asbestos risk to be a highly scientific and expensive effort.
Because of these properties, asbestos has been mined for use in a wide range of manufactured products, mostly in building materials, friction products, and heat-resistant fabrics. Since asbestos exposure had been identified as one of the causes of mesothelioma, all new uses of asbestos have been banned in the United States by the EPA, to lessen occupational asbestos risk.
Asbestos was also the building material of choice close to the sea. Click here to view pictures of asbestos in a seaside holiday destination.
Today, asbestos is heavily regulated and has ceased to exist in all but a few, closely monitored, products and industries. Despite this reduction in usage, a study completed in 1980 by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a subsidiary of the Centers for Disease Control’s Prevention (CDC) of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, maintains that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibers.
Because of the difficulties in obtaining good quantitative exposure assessments, cumulative exposure expressed in fiber-years is often selected as the common metric for the levels of exposures reported in epidemiological studies.
Asbestos Risk Management
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (CAWR) requires asbestos to be identified and assessed. Regulation 4 (CAWR 2002) places an explicit duty on the employer in occupation to manage the risks from asbestos in their premises.
The new H.S.E. Regulations, requires the employer, property owner or manager to make an assessment, as to whether asbestos is or liable to be present, internally or externally.
The employer, property owner or manager must then produce a written plan to locate and manage the occupational asbestos risk and to implement the plan in an asbestos management programme.
Click here to read more about Asbestos Risk management
Occupations with Asbestos Risk
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition and are currently, or have ever been employed in the following occupations, you may be entitled to compensation from the parties responsible for your exposure.
- Bricklayers - Carpenters - Cement Finishers - Construction Workers - Electricians - Railroad workers - Engineers - Insulators - Mine workers - Machinists - Dry wall removers - Mechanics - Teachers - Metal Workers - Civil servants - Pipefitters - Renovators - Plumbers - Asbestos mill factory workers - Roofers - Shipyard Workers - Steamfitters - Welders - Wives of the above and of asbestos workers
Security measures to prevent asbestos mesothelioma
The measures taken to prevent take-home contamination are varied. Operators may choose the most effective method for eliminating this hazard based on the unique conditions in the mine, including the nature of the hazard. For example, in one situation providing disposable coveralls could minimize or prevent asbestos take-home contamination. Another situation may require on-site shower facilities coupled with clothing changes to provide the same protection.
The existing standards, together with lower PELs, provide sufficient enforcement authority to ensure that mine operators take adequate measures, when necessary to prevent asbestos take-home contamination.
Commenters urged MSHA to expand the rulemaking to include specific requirements to prevent take-home contamination. NIOSH also encouraged MSHA to adopt measures included in its 1995 Report to Congress on their Workers’ Home Contamination Study Conducted under the Workers’ Family Protection Act.
About the Author
Pieter Pepler is a management consultant to small and medium enterpises. His work on asbestos mesothelioma and related research is published on his Mesothelioma-Junction.com website. His unique asbestos picture study of asbestos in a popular seaside holiday distination can also be viewed on his website.
Injury lawyer claims asbestos victory
Many became terminally ill after their jobs at the firm brought them into close contact with the dangerous substance. The families of workers at the factory were also put at personal risk through contact with contaminated workers, in addition to facing the pain of losing loved ones.
The case has been ongoing due to the slow appearance of the effects of working with asbestos, which can manifest themselves years later in the form of aggressive cancers.
The latest twist in the rollercoaster trail of legal successes and setbacks comes with this month’s test case judgment defeating insurers, who were reluctant to validate ongoing payouts to ill workers. “It is a milestone. I feel enormous relief for the families involved,” said Mr Hankins, consultant to Rowcroft solicitors AES Winterbothams.
“This is probably one of the most aggressively fought areas of injury and disease in my professional life,” he said.
“This is also a very important case for Stroud as the lead defendant insurer was BAI and six test case victims defeated the insurers.”
Mr Hankins maintains that the insurer, BAI, had gone along for years with the payouts to the ex employees of Fibrecrete, before arguing in 2007 that the payments should only begin once symptoms of the associated diseases began to manifest themselves.
For many victims, diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer which are caused by exposure to the dangerous asbestos particles do not develop until up to 30 years after the original contact, by which point the majority of insurance policies would have expired.
Luckily after 6 weeks of arguing, the High Court found in favour of Mr Hankins and the ex employees of Fibrecrete.
“If they’d won there would have been nothing more disappointing than finding that, after working through a case with either a very ill person or a widow, that there was no insurance policy to pay out their compensation,” Mr Hankins said.
“These men are totally innocent but die dreadful deaths with these illnesses. There are also the wives and daughters who washed their clothes for them and inhaled the asbestos particles. These women had not done anything wrong and yet they too are deprived of their health.”
Mr Hankins, who said he came into his profession on a vocation to “right all wrongs”, expects asbestos cases to peak in about 2015.
“During the test case litigation BAI admitted that over the last two years they had rejected 284 fatal mesothelioma claims, whose f families are consequently still awaiting compensation averaging £125,000 each, which is a total of a staggering £35.5 million,” Mr Hankins said.
About the Author
Carys has more articles pertaining to injury lawyers and other legal related articles.
Medical Expert Demands ‘Call For Action’ with Asbestos Industrial Manslaughter Cases
The President’s Cancer Panel is made up of individuals who with to “improve the investment in preventing cancers” that harm US citizens; the panel is an extension of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
However, Dr. Stellman, who gave a deposition of industrial carcinogens claimed that the toxic effects felt by many workers had manifested through the years and eventually caused the development of cancer among thousands, and basically stated that the panel was not doing enough to protect workers from carcinogens such as asbestos in the workplace.
Where Is Asbestos Used?
Considered a carcinogen, asbestos has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Deriving from vermiculite mines, asbestos was used in the construction of millions of homes and products until it was banned in the 1970s and 1980s. NCI reports that the wide-spread use of asbestos cannot be reveresed:
* cement
* hot water pipes
* plastics
* insulation
* roofing
* fireproofing
* sound absorption
* boilers
* steam pipes
* vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads
* ceiling and floor tiles
* paints
* coatings
* adhesives
Mesothelioma As ‘Industrial Manslaughter’
Dr. Stellman described to the panel that the carcinogens that industrial workers were exposed to was “ongoing industrial manslaughter” and that through research and records obtained from insulators belonging to a trade union there were and are extreme “cancer risks associated with asbestos and to the widespread control of asbestos that now exists.” safe
The EPA is currently responsible for the safe cleanup and disposal of asbestos in American homes, offices, apartment buildings, universities, schools, hospitals, est. However, according to a Seattle Post Intelligencer article from 2007, the EPA has had a “flawed system of examination and cleanup” of several hundred factories that had at one point processed asbestos or contained asbestos-contaminated vermiculite.
Developing Mesothelioma Cancer
According to the NCI, individuals who are at risk for developing asbestos-induced illnesses include those “exposed to asbestos in their workplace, their communities, or their homes.”
It is imperative that those feeling they were exposed to asbestos contact medical assistance as soon as possible. Additionally, the NCI explains that several signs and symptoms that indivduals can watch for to determine if they may be developing mesothelioma include:
* fatigue
* anemia
* weight loss, loss of appetite
* swelling of the neck or face
* difficulty swallowing
* pain or tightening in the chest
* coughing up blood
* persistent, worsening cough
* shortness of breath
* continued wheezing and hoarseness
Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos fibers or asbestos dust are advised to contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who can provide a free legal consultation as to the development of a mesothelioma lawsuit. Litigation that is developed surrounding the exposure to asbestos may be able to provide a return on monetary compensation to assist in paying expensive medical bills commonly associated with mesothelioma treatments.
About the Author
To learn more about mesothelioma cancer and additional treatments, visit http://mesothelioma.legalview.com/ . Also, individuals can find other information about topics ranging from the Avandia risks to the latest on truck accident jury verdicts by visiting http://www.LegalView.com/ .
Injury lawyer wins case for asbestos victims
Hankins said that the court ruling for insurance companies to pay out compensation for when a worker was exposed to asbestos and not when the symptoms appeared was a great improvement.
Hankins stated: “It is a milestone. I feel enormous relief for the families involved. This is probably one of the most aggressively fought areas of injury and disease in my professional life.”
Fibrecrete closed in 1971 but asbestos and similar illnesses have an incredibly long tail, or lead in time.
Mr Hankins commented: “If they’d won there would have been nothing more disappointing than finding that, after working through a case with either a very ill person or a widow, that there was no insurance policy to pay out their compensation.”
He furthered: “These men are totally innocent but die dreadful deaths with these illnesses. There are also the wives and daughters who washed their clothes for them and inhaled the asbestos particles. These women had not done anything wrong and yet they too are deprived of their health.”
Currently, it is thought that there are around 1,500 mesothelioma deaths a year in the UK, four or five of which are in Stroud.
Hankins said that he came into the lawyer profession on an ideal to “right all the wrongs” and he expects asbestos claims to increase in 1015.
Due to the BAI rejecting compensation claims many workers have suffered this work disease without court sympathy but BAI admitted that the rejection of hundreds of cases will lead to huge settlements.
Mr Hankins stated: “During the test case litigation BAI admitted that over the last two years they had rejected 284 fatal mesothelioma claims, whose families are consequently still awaiting compensation averaging £125,000 each, which is a total of a staggering £35.5 million.”
Asbestos cases can be difficult Many injury lawyers have found asbestos cases difficult, and until now, these cases were difficult to prove. Adrian Budgen, head of industrial disease litigation commented on his findings and on the new court ruling.
Budgen said that the number of work disease victims were huge: “It was hugely challenging because of the sheer scale of the litigation and the number of parties involved.”
Adrian then commented on the new ruling: “Mr Justice Burton found that the four insurers (BAI, Excess, Independent and MMI) were liable to provide an indemnity in respect of negligent exposure to asbestos during their policy periods.”
The new court ruling will hopefully give a new lease of life to the families who have lost loved ones to the disease.
Maureen Edwards who lost her father was happy with the decision: “My dad would have been proud that we have finally achieved justice for him, but he would have been disgusted by the lengths the insurers went to get out of paying.”
General-secretary of Unite, Derek Simpson stated it was a “hugely important victory for the victims of the deadly dust and for their families”.
About the Author
Catherine has more articles pertaining to injury lawyers and other legal related articles.
Things You Can Do to Prevent Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer.
Working in a company which uses asbestos is not safe. Looking for alternate employment would be the safest option. The companies have asbestos related safety precautions and one can ensure they are being followed. The commonly seen jobs that pose the highest risk of mesothelioma are:
1-Insulation manufacturing and installations.
2-Mining
3-Railroad workers
4-Workers in the factories
5-Asbestos manufacturing companies
6-Ship yard workers
7-Automotive repairs
8-Manufacturers of gas masks
Many old homes contain traces of asbestos. If you suspect your home to contain materials made of asbestos they can be tested in the laboratory. There are agencies dealing with asbestos removal and they can be contacted for removing asbestos from your home. Though it can be done by yourself it is safer to let an asbestos abatement or removal contractor perform the procedure.
Asbestos that is not disturbed is not considered a health hazard. But if there is flaking, friable ceilings and plumbing and if the building is built before the 1980s then there are chances that they contain asbestos and have to be removed safely. Public buildings like schools, office buildings, libraries, theatres etc are all prone to this hazard. The problem should be brought to the city authorities’ notice. Living near someone who works near asbestos also exposes you to the mineral.
Asbestos can be transported through clothing, skin and hair. Even a few strands of asbestos can sometimes lead to mesothelioma.
Once you have been exposed to asbestos and have not yet been diagnosed with the fatal condition, there is still hope for you. If care is taken you might not even develop it. Blood tests can be done annually to confirm that you are well. There are other diagnostic tools that can be performed annually on asbestos exposed individuals to reconfirm their health status. These tests also aid in early detection when the condition is curable and can be controlled.
Smoking should be stopped since smokers are more susceptible to the onset of the condition if they have asbestos exposure history. Prevention is the best way out in mesothelioma since it is fatal if not diagnosed early.
To Your Health!
About the Author
Florida Abortions Clinic. Dr. James S. Pendergraft opened the Orlando Women’s Center in March 1996 to provide a full range of health care for women, including Medical Abortions, physical examinations, family planning, counseling, laboratory services. Orlando Women’s Center. Abortions Clinic.
Mesothelioma: Beware the Dangers of Asbestos
• Pleural malignant mesothelioma occurs in the tissue around your lungs. It is the most common form of the disease.
• Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the tissue around your abdomen.
• Pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the tissue around your heart.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
The symptoms of mesothelioma vary based on the region of your body affected by the cancer. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
• Shortness of breath
• Painful breathing
• Painful coughing
• Chest pain near the rib cage
• Lumps of tissue under your chest skin
• Weight loss
• Dry cough
The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are:
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling
• Change in bowel habits (frequent diarrhea or constipation)
• Lumps of tissue in abdomen
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Vomiting
Causes of Mesothelioma
The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, a harmful fiber used as insulation. People who have a high exposure to asbestos are at greatest risk of developing mesothelioma. This exposure most commonly occurs in the workplace. Frequently, blue collar jobs in mines, ship yards, manufacturing facilities, construction sites, and railway facilities place people at greatest risk of asbestos exposure.
If asbestos dust is breathed or swallowed, the fibers can settle in your lungs or stomach, resulting in an irritation that ultimately causes mesothelioma. People with very high levels of exposure to asbestos are at greater risk of contracting mesothelioma than people with lower levels of exposure. It can take as long as 30 to 40 years for the disease to develop.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Over the years, many lawsuits have been filed and won on behalf of people exposed to asbestos at work. If you have been diagnosed with this rare cancer, you should consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney at once to see if you have a valid claim.
It is important to choose an attorney who specializes in mesothelioma claims. This is a highly complex area of the law, and you should not trust your case to someone lacking the proper experience. Several factors complicate many of these claims, including:
• The long delay between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma
• The widespread use of asbestos in many common products
• The ability to develop mesothelioma from second-hand exposure to asbestos
These factors can often make it difficult to prove precisely where you were exposed to this dangerous fiber. You will need a lawyer who can skillfully work with these factors and still help you receive the compensation you deserve.
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you are most likely looking at a lifetime of pain, medical expenses, and lost earning capacity. You should be compensated for your injuries. Why trust your mesothelioma claim to someone who is not an expert?
About the Author
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Delaware area, please contact the law offices of Peter G. Angelos, P.C. today to schedule a consultation with an experienced mesothelioma attorney.
What should you do if diagnosed with asbestos-related disease?
They are either direct methods or alternative methods. Some of the direct methods are Surgery-both Aggressive and Pallative, Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy etc. Immunoagumentive Therapy (IAT), Gene Therapy, Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy (IPT) etc. are some of the commonly practiced alternative methods.
Also one can take the help of Support Groups, which are available to help sufferers deal with the challenges that they are facing. A recent publication says that over 20% of Americans have participated in some type of self-help group. There are mainly two types of support groups that are available namely- online support groups and community centred support groups.
If you have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma it is important for you to have a positive frame of mind and keep yourself well informed about the latest medical developments that has taken place pertaining to this field. Also as a victim of the Asbestos industry you can have certain legal and social claims. The following propositions can be considered if you are a victim of Mesothelioma caused due to negligent asbestos exposure.
1. Legal Aid and Financial Compensation People who contract the disease must be absolutely sure that the cause for the same was asbestos exposure and then take steps to get the right legal counsel. Once the legal counsel has been retained the law will ensure that he or she gets the compensation for employers negligence if any.
2. Claim from the Asbestos Industry Mesothelioma victims have the option to claim large monetary compensation from the asbestos industry. These claims can go into the millions of dollars depending on the rights and cause of the claims. A Law firm that specializes in mesothelioma cases ensures that the families of victims gets ample compensation.
3. Claim Social Security Disability Victims can claim social security disability after getting advice from an attorney that specializes in these cases.
4. Disability Insurance You are legally entailed to claim disability insurance if you have disability insurance either privately procured, within your life insurance policy or through your employer.
5.Worker’s Compensation It is one of the core responsibilities of an employer to take care of its employees. Thus, even while the victim takes legal action against the asbestos industry he or she can simultaneously claim workers compensation for being ‘disabled’ during work. A lawyer who has experience in the asbestos industry should handle this sort of claim.
6. Health Insurance A victim of mesothelioma can incur huge medical bills due to the expensive nature of treatment that’s required for the treatment of this disease. If a victim is admitted to the hospital he or she should talk to the Discharge Planner or other personnel who can help with hospice and hospital coverage. Laws cover medial treatments and action can be taken health insurance company if they fail to provide proper coverage. Again it is imperative to ensure that the victim employs a proper legal representative.
About the Author
About the author: Did you know that mesothelioma symptoms are hard to detect? Find out why by visiting














































