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£185,000 for Widow of Mesothelioma Sufferer
The widow of a man who suffered from mesothelioma has won £185,000 in compensation. Her husband had worked as an electrician for a large London-based company for twelve years in the 1960s and 1970s. During that time he had frequently been required to wire up the control panels for boilers. Sometimes, asbestos paste was being applied to the boilers at the same time and he recalled a layer of asbestos dust being present.
In July 2005 the former electrician was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an extremely aggressive form of cancer, and he commenced a claim against his former employers. Unfortunately, he died in December 2005 and the claim was continued by his widow. The compensation of £185,000 was agreed two weeks before going to trial.
Although the supply and use of asbestos has been banned in the UK, it is estimated that one and a half million workplaces still contain the harmful substance.
The law requires all owners of non-domestic premises to manage any asbestos in their buildings and to presume asbestos is present unless there is evidence to prove that it is not. Such premises include all industrial, commercial or public buildings such as factories, warehouses, offices, shops, hospitals and schools. However, the TUC has reported that there are insufficient safety inspectors to ensure that every employer has checked for asbestos. As a result, those carrying out maintenance, building, demolition work and many other workers could be put at risk. In order to prevent this, the TUC and the Health and Safety Executive have produced guidance for health and safety representatives on how to keep workplaces safe from asbestos.
Owners of premises should carry out a suitable risk assessment before any work is carried out which may expose employees or others to asbestos.
In July 2005 the former electrician was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an extremely aggressive form of cancer, and he commenced a claim against his former employers. Unfortunately, he died in December 2005 and the claim was continued by his widow. The compensation of £185,000 was agreed two weeks before going to trial.
Although the supply and use of asbestos has been banned in the UK, it is estimated that one and a half million workplaces still contain the harmful substance.
The law requires all owners of non-domestic premises to manage any asbestos in their buildings and to presume asbestos is present unless there is evidence to prove that it is not. Such premises include all industrial, commercial or public buildings such as factories, warehouses, offices, shops, hospitals and schools. However, the TUC has reported that there are insufficient safety inspectors to ensure that every employer has checked for asbestos. As a result, those carrying out maintenance, building, demolition work and many other workers could be put at risk. In order to prevent this, the TUC and the Health and Safety Executive have produced guidance for health and safety representatives on how to keep workplaces safe from asbestos.
Owners of premises should carry out a suitable risk assessment before any work is carried out which may expose employees or others to asbestos.
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