Don't Breathe In
It has been reported by the independent thinktank ResPublica that more than six million tonnes of asbestos remain in many public buildings such as hospitals and schools.
Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals composed of thin fibres. If inhaled it can lead to variety of cancers and diseases including mesothelioma and asbestosis.
The substance continues to be the UK’s number one occupational killer, causing more than 5,500 deaths in 2018.
ResPublica’s view is that the UK’s regulation and laws surrounding asbestos need to be reviewed. Following their study of the current policy, they found that the UK school children can inhale up to 10 times potentially more harmful airborne particles than Germany and that nurses and teachers are 3-5 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than the general public.
The report outlines several recommendations to improve the regulations surrounding asbestos which in turn would reduce the number of people affected by the serious and often fatal illnesses that follow inhalation.
These recommendations include bringing the management regimes for asbestos up to the standard of Germany, France and the Netherlands, maintaining a central register of all public buildings currently affected by asbestos and carrying out a cost benefit analysis into the removal of asbestos from such public buildings.
If you or anyone you know suffers or has suffered from an asbestos related disease, then you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation. For a free initial chat or just to discuss whether you may have a potential claim, contact us on 01603 620508.
This article was produced on the 6th March 2020 by our Personal Injury & Group Actions team for information purposes only and should not be construed or relied upon as specific legal advice.