Asbestos: a hidden killer

Did you know that every week...

Asbestos is the primary cause of work-related cancer. It is now illegal to use asbestos in the construction or refurbishment of buildings, but the Health and Safety Executive estimates that 500,000 non-domestic buildings in the UK still contain asbestos.   

News January 2010:

• Pleural plaques - We are told that an announcement from the Government on compensation in England & Wales is imminent.
• Asbestos campaign - HSE's early evaluation is that this is a highly successful health campaign. Please continue to play your part using Prospect Members' Factard "Asbestos: the hidden killer".  

Asbestos register: tell Prospect if you've worked with asbestos

Prospect pursues compensation claims for asbestos-related illness every year. We sometimes need help from members' former colleagues to help prove that asbestos is involved. But many sufferers have lost touch with former colleagues by the time their condition comes to light.

So we have set up a register to record details of members' workplace exposure to asbestos. So far, more than 1250 people have volunteered this information. The register is held by our solicitors Russell Jones & Walker (RJW).

If you have worked with asbestos, please add your details to the register. The register will be used if you ever need to make a claim on your own behalf, or to help pursue claims on behalf of your colleagues or former colleagues.

RJW will search the register for witnesses who worked for the same employer or in the same workplace amnd so provide evidence in support of members' claims. This will help them succeed in claims for Prospect members or their bereaved families and can bring financial peace of mind and justice to those affected by asbestos diseases.

Download our asbestos register leaflet for more information. To register, contact asbestos@prospect.org.uk, or download the PDF version of our asbestos registration form.

If you are suffering from an asbestos-related disease and want to submit a claim for compensation, you can find more information in the 'legal services' area of our site.

More information about asbestos

HSE provides an enormous suite of information, advice and interactive tools at its excellent webpages. Reps will find the interactive asbestos management tools particularly valuable as they help assess danger.  

HSE's asbestos home page: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm

Hidden killer – HSE's asbestos campaign: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/campaign/index.htm

General information for workers about asbestos - www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/employees.htm

Guidance for H&S reps: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/repsguide.pdf

Inadvertent exposure, advice for workers: www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/fod/oc/200-299/265-48-2.htm

Inadvertent exposure, advice for employers: www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/fod/oc/200-299/265-48-1.htm

Roger Lowe campaign