Asbestos Injury Claims: Occupational Exposure

Asbestos refers to six types of naturally occurring minerals. These minerals are made up of durable fibres that are resistant to heat, fire and most chemicals. Due to the durability of asbestos it was used in everyday products from building materials to fireproof protective gear. There are two main types of asbestos:

Serpentine Asbestos:

This was the most commercially used form of asbestos. Due to its flexible nature and the ability to mix this mineral with other elements it was used widely throughout the US and the rest of the world making its way in to products which still cause a hazard today.

Amphibole Asbestos: 

This type of asbestos is much more hazardous than Serpentine asbestos when ingested or inhaled. Luckily amphibole was not commonly used commercially and exposure is limited to naturally occurring deposits.

Occupational Exposure to Asbestos: 

In the majority of mesothelioma cases doctors can link the diagnosis to on the job exposure. According to the World Health Organisation this exposure to asbestos accounts for some 100,000 occupational deaths per year worldwide. While there has been a massive reduction in asbestos use, construction workers continue to risk exposure while either repairing or demolishing asbestos contaminated buildings.

Exposure to Asbestos – Cause of Serious Medical Conditions

This list is not exhaustive. The most serious of the above is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer of the lining of the lungs and abdomen. Exposure to asbestos is to date the only known cause of this particular cancer. It can take up to 45 years for this cancer to develop and there is no known cure. It is extremely aggressive and life expectancy is usually 6 – 18 months.

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Asbestosis
• Ovarian Cancer
• Testes Cancer
• Pleural effusion

Type of Work Environment where Asbestos Exposure is Lightly

Unfortunately the risks of working with asbestos were not firmly established until the 1960’s by which time hundreds of thousands of people had already been exposed. There is now legislation is place to protect workers from exposure to asbestos (S.I. No. 386/2006 – Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006.

• Construction workers
• Shipyard workers
• Plumbers
• Carpenters
• Family members of workers exposed to asbestos dust
• Electricians
• Workers in power plants

You have two years from the date of your accident within which to make a claim after which time your case will become statute barred. If you have any legal questions or wish to start your claim, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated and experienced team of solicitors who will be more than happy to talk you through the whole process and answer any questions that you may have. Contact us 7 days a week by Phone: 01 453 7890 Email: info@lawline.ie or fill out our Call Back Form.