Asbestos Related Illness

What is asbestos exactly?

Asbestos occurs naturally and there are three different types:

White asbestos, which has long and curly fibres and is used to make fabric. The fibres are likely to get caught in your windpipe and so are coughed out.
Blue asbestos, which has fine, needle-like fibres. These fibres are more likely to get into your lungs.
Brown asbestos, which has thicker, needle-like fibres that can also get into your lungs.

It has been known for over a hundred years that it could be dangerous to health, but it wasn't until the 1960s that some asbestos was banned in the UK. Now all asbestos use is banned.

How do people come into contact with asbestos?

Many people, particularly in towns and cities, will have been in contact with asbestos, because it's been used in things like insulation. Most won't suffer any ill effects and it's not clear why some people get ill from being in contact with it while others don't.

Because the dangers have been known for a long time, it is likely most large employers would know if they have exposed their workers to asbestos.

How can asbestos affect people?

There are five diseases caused by asbestos:

Asbestosis can develop when someone has been in heavy contact with asbestos for a long time - normally more than 20 years. It leads to shortness of breath, abnormal chest sounds and a condition called "clubbing fingertips". The condition gets slowly worse and can be very disabling, but patients rarely die.
Lung cancer can develop from asbestosis or contact with asbestos, particularly if the sufferer was also a smoker. It is quite often fatal.
Mesothelioma is a tumour, normally in the lining of the lungs. It can appear between ten and fifty years after being in contact with asbestos. It is very serious and normally causes chest pain and shortness of breath which gets worse. It can be fatal.
Diffuse pleural thickening is when the lining of the lungs thickens, which can lead to shortness of breath during activity. It's not a fatal condition.
Pleural plaques are caused by being in regular contact with asbestos but they don't normally harm the lungs and won't affect life expectancy.

What should I do if I think I have been affected?

If you are anxious about having been in contact with asbestos and the effect on your health, you must speak to your GP.

If you are anxious about having been in contact with asbestos and the effect on your health, you must speak to your GP. They will be able to arrange the necessary tests and if you do have a chest condition you will be taken care of by a specialist consultant. If your diagnosis suggests asbestos might have caused your illness, you may be entitled to special benefits and compensation.

How can I claim these benefits?

You should contact your local Jobcentre Plus (see jobcentreplus.gov.uk). They will be able to tell you the benefits you can get.

How can I claim compensation?

You might be able to get compensation for a diseases caused by being in contact with asbestos. This applies regardless of whether if you were in contact with it through your work, or at home. For example it might have been used in your neighbourhood or you may have relatives who worked with asbestos and came home with fibres on their clothes.

You should talk to a lawyer who has experience of this issue to find out if you have a good case for claiming compensation - most asbestos cases have a reasonable chance.

When can I make a claim?

It can take a long time for diseases caused by asbestos to take hold. Even if you only have minor symptoms you can get compensation and you could get more later if they get worse. So don't put off making a claim.

As soon as you find out you have an illness caused by asbestos, get legal advice. Otherwise you might find you have run out of time and can't make a claim.

What happens when I make a claim?

There are four main things your lawyer will need to prove to get compensation:

Firstly, they will have to show the disease is asbestos related. This is by a report from a medical expert.
Then they will need to show the asbestos came from a particular source - normally your employer.
Next, they will need to establish that your employer should have known that putting you in contact with asbestos might lead to you getting the disease. Many employers have known the dangers of asbestos for over 50 years.
Finally, they will need to show the contact with asbestos was due to your employer's negligence.

What if my employer has gone out of business?

Your lawyer can still help you get compensation, so you should still get in contact with them.

For more information you can download this fact sheet to read offline or print.