Asbestos Exposure

Have you ever worked in a workplace where you were exposed to asbestos or asbestos dust or fibres or worked near other people who did? Even your family members may be at risk if they came into contact with you or your work clothes.

Do you have problems with wheezing or shortness of breath or coughing? If so, you may have a claim for Industrial disease.

An exposure to asbestos can lead to conditions such as, pleural thickening, Mesothelioma, Asbestosis and Lung Cancer. These conditions are all different.

Asbestosis

People who may have been exposed to asbestos and may not even realise can include any of the following:-

• Plumbers
• Builders
• Roofers
• Dockers
• Factory Workers
• Bricklayers
• Shipyard Workers
• Railway Workers
• Construction Workers
• Painters & Decorators
• Electricians
• Gas Fitters
• Laggers
• Women who assembled gas masks during the war

Asbestosis is a progressive disease and you may suffer no symptoms at all for many years. It can take tens of years for symptoms to develop like breathlessness and coughing and many people do not even realise they have this disease even some 20-30 years after its exposure.

Asbestosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis caused by the asbestos fibres which become lodged in the lungs after being inhaled from the air. This causes the lungs to shrink resulting in breathlessness. This type of condition usually only develops where there has been a substantial amount of inhalation of asbestos dust and normally after a long time after inhalation and often up to 20 – 30 years after the start of exposure.

How we can help?

Our qualified and very experienced Solicitors will handle your claim. We are dedicated to fighting for victims of accidents. We guarantee to recover maximum compensation in the shortest possible time. We offer home visits and out of hours service.

What can I claim for?

You are entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries and the effect of your injuries on your lifestyle and day to day living.

You can also claim for any financial losses such as loss of earnings, medical and travelling expenses. You can claim for the cost of family members and friends to look after you.

What should I do now?

Contact one of our specialist Solicitors for FAST FRIENDLY AND FREE ADVICE. You have THREE years in which to claim from the day your accident happened.

We promise to return your call within ONE HOUR. We can call you at any time to suit and can visit you at home or your work place and out of hours.

This is a type of cancer that is normally caused by exposure to asbestos many many years ago and as long as 60 years before symptoms appear. It can also be caused by only a small amount of exposure to asbestos.

The symptoms can be very minor to start with but eventually can include breathlessness, chest pains, coughing and a change in voice.

It is a form of cancer that affects the Mesothelium which is a thin membrane that is found in the abdomen (peritonal Mesothelioma) or in the inner chest wall and the more common disease known as Pleural Mesothelioma.

It is sometimes difficult to diagnose this condition but once you have been given a diagnosis by your G.P. then you should be referred to see a Specialist Consultant urgently.

It is usual for a CT Scan and/or MRI Scan and/or Ultrasound Scan or PET Scan carried out to confirm the disease. In addition a Biopsy may be required.

Once the tests have been carried out and a disgnosis made to confrim the size and whereabouts of the cancer and a treatment plan can be given depending on the stage.

Stage 1 – limited to the pleura on one side of the chest

Stage 2 – as above but the cancer cells will have extended into the pleura in the lung tissue or muscle of the diaphragm

Stage 3 – the cancer will have spread to the glands in the chest and deeper into the tissues around the pleura

Stage 4 – the cancer will have spread to other organs or to tissue close to the pleura

If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma you are more likely than not entitled to recover compensation from the insurers of the employers for whom you worked when you were exposed to the asbestos. Even if these employers no longer exist you may still be able to claim.

We can also help families of those who regrettably may have died from the disease and can offer help with the Inquest and claim for compensation.

How we can help?

Our qualified and very experienced Solicitors will handle your claim. We are dedicated to fighting for victims of accidents. We guarantee to recover maximum compensation in the shortest possible time. We offer home visits and out of hours service.

What can I claim for?

You are entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries and the effect of your injuries on your lifestyle and day to day living.

You can also claim for any financial losses such as loss of earnings, medical and travelling expenses. You can claim for the cost of family members and friends to look after you.

What should I do now?

Contact one of our specialist Solicitors for FAST FRIENDLY AND FREE ADVICE. You have THREE years in which to claim from the day your accident happened.

We promise to return your call within ONE HOUR. We can call you at any time to suit and can visit you at home or your work place and out of hours.

This is known as “Industrial deafness” and is very common. It is normally caused by prolonged exposure to excessive noise levels.

If you have worked in any noisy work environment after 1963 without any proper ear protection and you now find you have a hearing problem you may have a claim.

What are the symptoms?

• Friends/relatives complaining that you have the TV on too loud
• Having to ask people to repeat themselves
• Being unable to hear conversations
• Ringing or buzzing in your ears
• Being unable to listen to conversation when there is other background noise

Are there any tests to confirm I am suffering from hearing loss? Yes? Your Doctor can arrange for you to have an Audiogram which will confirm whether you are suffering from hearing loss.

This is a very common type of “Occupational Illness” that affects Many employees every year. It generally occurs after exposure to chemicals such as acids, cutting fluids, and solvents.

What are the symptoms?

Your employers must provide you with personal protective equipment particularly when an employee comes into contact with chemicals in the course of their job.

Who is at risk?

• Hairdressers
• Machine operators
• Printers
• Medical and dental staff
• Construction workers
• Those involved in food preparation
• Those involved in the manufacture of chemicals

There are many other types of employment where a person may come into contact with products that cause skin irritation leading to a disease. Please contact one of our Solicitors if you are unsure whether you have an occupational skin disease.