Asbestos – Teachers and Nurses

2,500 people a year die of asbestos-related diseases this includes mesothelioma. Due to the 30 year latency period [i] a lot of the deaths are following exposure to asbestos in the 1970s and 1980s.

Rather than the traditional trades with in the past a lot of dockers, mechanics, plumbers, electricians and builders being affected there has been a steep rise in people being exposed to asbestos who worked in schools and hospitals.

A lot of schools and hospitals have been lagged with asbestos for insulation and fireproofing. In a survey carried out in 2015 it was found that 86% of schools contained asbestos. A further survey into NHS Trusts showed that 198 out of 211 NHS Trusts have asbestos in the building.

Laying undisturbed the asbestos is harmless although the problems occur when the buildings are renovated or demolished. The asbestos fibers are contained in the dust when ceiling tiles are removed or walls are knocked down.

It is not when somebody is exposed to asbestos that they can claim for an injury it is actually when the asbestos-related disease occurs. In 2007 the laws in England and Wales changed to stop people claiming for pleural plaques. This is as they did not consider this to be a disease.

If you have been exposed to asbestos in the past and develop breathing difficulties then make an appointment with your GP to get yourself checked out.

If you are ever diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease contact Curtis Solicitors Limited on 01254 297 130. We have a team of experienced industrial disease solicitors who have obtained compensation for clients in the past for these types of injuries.

[i] The latency period is the time between being exposed to asbestos fibers that attach to the walls of the lungs and when the disease develops. A person can have asbestos fibers attached to their lungs which remains dormant and never develops into an asbestos-related disease.