Pleural plaques are essentially a scarring of the lungs caused by repeated exposure to asbestos over a long period of time. One in seven of those diagnosed with pleural plaques will develop mesothelioma, an aggressive form of lung cancer directly linked with asbestos exposure. The number of mesothelioma cases is rising and is set to peak in 2020 with over 10,000 people dying from the disease.

Until October 2007, when the Lords ruled that pleural plaques did not qualify as a disease, those diagnosed with pleural plaques were able to claim compensation. Despite the disease being symptomless, victims can suffer from a number of debilitating mental and physical conditions.

Since the ruling the construction workers’ union UCATT has been putting pressure on the Government to take action on the ruling and uphold the claims of victims of pleural plaques.

The union has just launched a major postcard campaign, particularly focusing on the Yorkshire and Humberside region, which has one of the highest levels of asbestos victims in England, with 167 dying from mesothelioma in 2007 alone.

David Oglesby, UCATT’s regional official for Hull said “The Law Lords decision was outrageous and was a total injustice. Employers cannot get away with playing fast and loose with workers’ lives.”

We deal in a range of claims, including medical negligence and compensation. For further information, please visit http://www.1stclaims.co.uk.

Pleural plaques are areas of fibrosis or scarring of the lung tissue on the inner surface of the ribcage and the diaphragm. While they don’t cause any health problems themselves they do indicate that the person has been exposed to asbestos in the past.

While pleural plaques itself is symptomless, people who them are more likely to develop the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma and would require life-long medical check-ups, even if a more serious disease did not develop.

Until recently, it was possible for those with pleural plaques to claim compensation. However, in October 2007, the Lords ruled that pleural plaques was not a disease and therefore people diagnosed with them will not be able to claim compensation.

While this ruling could save the insurance industry £1.4 billion it is now facing serious criticism from Labour MPs, asbestos campaigners and the Union Of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT).

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT said: “The Law Lords decision was wrong and is a major injustice for thousands of workers. Urgent legislation is essential to compensate workers who through no fault of their own have had their health damaged.”

We deal in a range of claims, including personal injury claims and compensation.

Following a new Government consultation paper, those affected by conditions caused by the inhalation of asbestos could be entitled to up to £5,000.

This paper overturns a controversial ruling by the Law Lords last year, which stated that insurance companies were not liable for compensation. The “no fault” scheme has been introduced to speed up payouts to suffers of “pleural plaques” a condition that can lead to serious diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Campaigners, however, are unhappy that calls to scrap the insurance company liability ruling altogether have been firmly rejected. This has also been met with outrage by politicians such a Labour MP Michael Clapham, who said:

“The disease is caused by negligent exposure to asbestos, which causes a physiological change, and the victim should be compensated.”

He continued:

“This is a working-class disease and there is no doubt that had it been a middle-class disease the judges would have contrived a way to pay compensation.”

Liverpool and the Wirral are considered to be hotspots for asbestos related illness, with reported cases of conditions occurring at higher than that average national level. In total, 1150 people died from Mesothelioma across the region from 1980-2005.

Among the areas worst affected were Ellesmere Port, Neston, Halton, Knowsley and Sefton. This is due to the region’s tradition of shipbuilding and heavy industry which over the years have led to high levels of asbestos exposure.

The death toll is expected to rise over the coming years, with experts predicting that as many as 2,450 related deaths could occur each year nationwide by the year 2015

Gina Simpson from specialist asbestos compensation claims company Aegis Law commented on the ruling by saying: “There are potentially thousands of people across the northwest who could be affected by conditions such as mesothelioma, as a result of prolonged exposure to asbestos dust.”

“If you think that you, or a loved one may be affected, call us today on: 0800-148-4747 where one of our friendly team will be happy to help you to claim what you are entitled to.