We are personal injury solicitors specialising in claiming compensation for clients with asbestosis. Stephen Morse has experience with these types of injuries, and introduces our services in this short video.

Read more about work related asbestosis below, or use our free legal advice service opposite to ask us a question or to get started making a claim.

Asbestosis Claims

Asbestosis (Pulmonary / Lung Fibrosis) is a chronic inflammatory lung condition caused by heavy asbestos exposure over a prolonged period. Asbestos is the number one cause of work related deaths in the UK today, and it is speculated that the next decade could see a massive rise in Asbestosis claims, as the effects of asbestos fibre inhalation during the years prior to 1999 become apparent. In 2004 the Actuarial Profession warned that the cost of Asbestosis claims in the UK could reach £20bn in the next 30 years, while the government has already set up an £85million asbestos compensation fund for public sector workers. Most cases of Asbestosis begin about 20 years after initial exposure, though it has been known to take up to 40 years for the condition to develop. Asbestosis is incurable and progresses with age. The symptoms can however be slowed and alleviated with specialist medical treatment.

Who Is Affected By Work Related Asbestosis Disease?

Asbestos was used from the end of the Second World War in the construction, building, and manufacturing industries, due to its unusual strength and heat resistant properties. The use of blue (crocidolite), brown (amosite) and white (chrysotile) asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999 under The Asbestos (Prohibition) Regulations. Carpenters, shipbuilders, miners, construction, demolition, electricity, gas and power station workers are all known to have been particularly at risk of excessive asbestos exposure in the course of their work. Asbestosis can also potentially effect a far wider group of people than individual workers alone. Asbestos was put into schools, hospitals and workplaces across the UK, and the asbestos fibre can easily attach itself to clothes or hair, potentially posing a threat to an asbestos-exposed worker's family, or even to their hairdresser. Such widespread exposure is the main reason why Asbestosis claims are expected to increase so dramatically over the next 20 years.

Symptoms Of Work Related Asbestosis Disease

When a piece of asbestos is broken or damaged it releases an airborne fine dust composed of long crystal fibres. When inhaled these fibres penetrate the lung tissue and trigger an inflammatory reaction. The asbestos fibres are resistant to the protective white blood cells, sent by the immune system to combat the intrusive material. The asbestos bodies embed themselves in the lung tissue, causing scarring and thickening of the tissue (known as fibrosis) in extreme cases, as well as a gradual decrease in lung capacity. The first symptom of asbestosis is periodic shortness of breath. As the condition develops it may involve a dry cough, 'rasping' or 'rattling' in the chest, and subsequent chest pains and tightness. Asbestosis sufferers will also be particularly susceptible to other conditions such as lung cancer, Mesothelioma, chronic asthma or bronchitis and various pleural disorders.

Treating Asbestosis Disease

If you have been exposed to asbestos at work you are advised to seek regular check-ups from your GP. A clinical diagnosis of Asbestosis will consider chest X-rays, lung function tests and the level of asbestos exposure. A biopsy may be required to allow detailed examination of the lung tissue. The main symptom of mild Asbestosis is breathlessness, and this is treated with oxygen therapy to increase the flow of oxygen to the body. Certain medications may also be prescribed. The severity of the condition (and the resulting compensation awarded) depend essentially on the decrease in the capacity of the lungs relative to the density of the asbestos fibres inhaled and the duration of the exposure.

Employers Must Take Steps To Prevent Illnesses At Work

It is an employer's responsibility to prevent exposure to asbestos in the workplace, or if this is not practical, to reduce the exposure to the lowest possible level. A risk assessment is also required before any work with asbestos is undertaken. Your employers duties are governed by a number of workplace regulations and in particular:

The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006

Asbestosis Claims And Compensation Awards

Asbestosis sufferers should use a regulated solicitor to launch a compensation claim within 3 years of the date that they become aware of their condition, and the fact that asbestos exposure at work is likely to have caused it. If the victim has died of the condition then a case must be brought within 3 years of the date of death, or 3 years from the original diagnosis. Asbestosis claims can be brought against one or more employers (even if the employer is no longer trading), the employer's insurance company, or in some cases, even the government if the location where the asbestos exposure took place cannot be confirmed. 90% of Asbestosis claims are settled before they go to court. Damages will reflect the type of condition, the cost of medical care, loss of earnings, pain and suffering.