Asbestos Claims – Secondary Exposure to Asbestos

We now know that asbestos is a killer, and those suffering from asbestos-related diseases have been entitled to compensation claims for their illnesses for a number of years. More recently, those who have been affected through secondary exposure to asbestos have discovered they may be able to claim for compensation, as well.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which is toxic to humans. Inhaling it can lead to a number of serious health problems, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Asbestos is soft, pliable and able to withstand heat, electricity and chemical damage, all properties which led to its widespread use in building and manufacturing from the late 19th century until the mid-1980s. It was at this time that it became widely acknowledged that asbestos was a dangerous substance, and many uses of asbestos have been banned ever since.

When is asbestos hazardous?

Although many buildings still have asbestos within them, simply being in close proximity to the substance is not dangerous. You can live in a house which contains asbestos without ever being affected by it, provided the asbestos dust and fibres are not released into the air and inhaled. However, anyone dismantling buildings which contain asbestos must take precautions so as not to inhale the fibres.

Asbestos exposure is most deadly when the fibres are inhaled regularly over a long period of time, for example, through working with asbestos or as a result of living in close proximity to an asbestos mine.

Asbestos compensation claims

Asbestos has been used habitually for many years, mostly by people unaware of its dangers. Because lots of these people were effectively put in danger at work by their employer, many affected by asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma (asbestos-related cancer) are now claiming for compensation, and have been doing so since 1972.

Because symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses may not appear until many years after the initial exposure, asbestos claims can be backdated by years or even decades.

Secondary exposure to asbestos

More recently, the medical profession has come to realise that it is not just those who have been exposed to asbestos at work that could become ill. Their friends and family may also be affected, if they regularly came into contact with them while they still had asbestos on their work clothes.

Often, the partners or relatives of those who have worked with asbestos on a daily basis have inhaled the substance each day while washing their work outfits or overalls. Many claims have been filed by women who were made sick in this way, and interviews with the victims showed that they would usually shake out the clothes before they washed them, thereby releasing more of the dust and fibres into the air they were breathing.

Can you claim compensation?

If you believe you could have been affected by secondary exposure to asbestos, look out for symptoms such as coughing, chest pains and shortness of breath, as these can all be linked to asbestos-related diseases. Anyone suffering from secondary asbestos exposure, where the exposure was not their fault, has the right to claim asbestosis compensation for their suffering and for any medical expenses incurred.