Asbestos: Banned, but Not Gone

The use of asbestos has decreased in recent years due to the now well documented and devastating lung conditions asbestos exposure causes. Despite the wealth of information we now have about the potential dangers of working with asbestos, unfortunately those who have already been exposed to asbestos still face an uncertain future.
With asbestos being a banned in the UK for over a decade now, one of the asbestos related dangers facing the British people is complacency. Asbestos still exists in Britain. In fact, asbestos is everywhere – in our schools, our homes, our cars and even our hospitals. Consequently, when we undertake renovation projects, remodel public building or modify our cars in anyway, we may still encounter and potentially disrupt asbestos, endangering ourselves, our families and the public.

Another reason people may become complacent about the dangers asbestos poses is due to the fact asbestos related conditions can take up to fifty years to establish themselves. Hence, while the use of asbestos decreases, the emergence of asbestos related conditions has increased and will continue to as those who worked with asbestos in past decades begin, now, to suffer the effects.

Only last week, a man in New South Wales was awarded 1.3 million dollars in damages. Mario Perez worked as a labourer at a bus depot in Chullora, Sydney’s from the 1970s until 1990. Mr Perez worked with asbestos-made gaskets used in bus engines, asbestos piping and beneath an asbestos roof which was not removed until the late 1980s. Now 68 years old, he is suffering from mesothelioma, a rare cancer predominantly caused by asbestos exposure. The cancer has spread throughout Mr Perez’s body and spine, preventing him from continuing to care for his grandchildren and devastating his family.

There is currently no cure for mesothelioma. Mr Perez, previous to developing cancer, also cared for his wife who has suffered from a debilitating heart condition since adolescence. Consequently, Mr Perez was awarded the 1.3 million dollars, taking into consideration his diminishing health and lost capacity to support and care for his family.

If, like Mr Perez, you are diagnosed with an asbestos related cancer, the Asbestos Advice Helpline can help you find out more about making a mesothelioma claim.