What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a highly-fibrous mineral with long, thin, separable
fibres. For decades, asbestos was the insulating material of choice
for many industries such as building, mining and as lagging on
boilers and pipes in homes. As asbestos ages, it becomes brittle
allowing fibres to be released more easily. Asbestos fibres can
have serious effects on your health if inhaled. The more exposure
you have to asbestos, the greater the risk of developing an
asbestos-related disease.
There are three main types: crocidolite
(blue), amosite (brown) and chrysotile (white). The import ban of
blue and brown asbestos was enforced in 1985 with a ban for the
import of white asbestos coming into effect in 1999.
Asbestos is most likely to be found in:
- House insulation (especially if built between
1930 and 1950)
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Lagging (pipes and boilers)
- Insulating boards
- Moulded or pre-formed lagging
- Cloths and textiles
- Paints and surface coverings
- Corrugated roofing sheets
Asbestos related diseases can take more than 30 years to
develop. Many people who breathed in the lethal dust in the 1960s
and '70s, are only just discovering its effects.
Asbestos claims legal advice
There are many different types of illnesses and conditions you
can develop after being exposed to asbestos. The worst-case
scenario is a fast and deadly cancer. Contact us immediately to
discuss your asbestos-related disease claim, especially if you know
you have had contact with asbestos and have been diagnosed
with:
- Asbestosis
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Pleural plaques
- Pleural thickening
At Hodge Jones & Allen, our specialist personal injury
asbestos claim solicitors will help you understand how, when and
where you contracted your illness. Even if the company you worked
for no longer exists, its insurers probably do, so claiming
compensation may still be available. It won’t necessarily repair
your health, but it could make you and your dependents more
comfortable.