Hovering in the air are minute particles of asbestos and at some point in time, everyone is exposed. However it is mainly in the workplace or home where perhaps the concentrations are higher, that a person should be more conscious of this potentially dangerous material.
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibre and has been incorporated into insulation and applied in many other industries. It is well-known for its anti-corrosion and heat-resistant properties and been used as a building material since 1950. As this can be woven into things like roof sheeting, floor tiles and window frames, its presence cannot always be identified. However, according to the latest Health & Safety legislation, if the building you are living or working in was constructed before the year 2000, it’s likely that some components will be made up of this ‘hidden killer’.
‘Asbestosvision’ has recently been offered, through which you can look at a home on-screen and spot where Asbestos may have been used; toilet cisterns, boiler cupboards and wall panelling are just a few of the potential hiding places. If you do come across asbestos in your home or workplace, you should never begin dismantling or disturbing the component. Licensed contractors must be called in to assess the situation.
There are around 4000 deaths due to diseases caused by asbestos. These normally leave the families left behind with heartache and financial instability. Lawyers and specialist solicitors in personal injury have been fighting for justice for years in order to try to offer some kind of compensation to these folks. In April 2012, the British Supreme Court ruled that liability lay firmly at the door of those insurers who were working with companies at the time their employees were exposed to asbestos.
HSE shine the spotlight on Mesothelioma with some real-life sufferers. This is an asbestos-related disease and one man lived with it for 6 years. He had been exposed to asbestos fibres for 28 years whilst he worked as an assistant foreman. He carried out his maintenance and refurbishment tasks with the presence of this material all around him. When he used to direct workers to a part of the building where asbestos cladding and lagging needed replacing or repairing, dust would fill the air. There was no advice, warnings or special protective clothing given to these men.
He first experienced a bad cough which he more or less ignored. However after a while his GP diagnosed him with pneumonia and then TB. He went on to receive 6 months worth of treatment. After a year, the terrible news was that he had Mesothelioma and was given 6-9 months to live. This disease can take its time before making itself known to the patient; anywhere from 15-60 years. It then begins attacking the external lining of the lungs. Unfortunately, there is no cure. Many people have to endure radium treatment, chemotherapy and even in some instances, major surgery.
Bruce Giles writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
