Many employers’ health and safety measures did not protect their workers sufficiently from the effects of exposure. As a result there are an increasing number of people suffering from diseases caused by asbestos and currently up to 3000 deaths a year from exposure to asbestos and related illnesses. This figure is forecast by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to increase until between 2015 & 2020.
According to the HSE, the ten occupations found to have the highest risk of Mesothelioma, the most serious Asbestos related cancer, based on deaths between 1980 and 2000 were:
- Metal Plate Workers
- Vehicle Body Builders
- Plumbers and Gas Fitters
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Electrical Plant Operators
- Production Fitters
- Construction Workers
- Electrical Engineers.
These occupations were associated largely with the following occupations using Asbestos:
- Railway engine and carriage building
- Construction - Especially installing insulation
- Shipbuilding
- Oil refineries
- Textiles
- Car brake pad manufacture
- Power generation.
If you think you have a claim of if you need more information please contact our Industrial Disease Team on 0800 988 0777 and ask for one of the following:
Paul Meehan - pmeehan@pattinsonbrewer.co.uk (London - Central)
Marcus Weatherby - mweatherby@pattinsonbrewer.co.uk (London - Central)
Deborah Smith - dsmith1@pattinsonbrewer.co.uk (London - Central)
Gary Lightwood - glightwood@pattinsonbrewer.co.uk (Bristol)
Ron Thompson - rthompson@pattinsonbrewer.co.uk (York)
