Lawford Kidd's Blog

The rate of deaths from asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma in England is climbing, according to the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

APIL has based its claim on Office for National Statistics figures, which show that the average rate of deaths from mesothelioma in England is 4.5 deaths per 100,000 people. This is a significant increase over the rate in the period 2008-2012, which was 2.6.

APIL has also compiled the ten areas with the highest mortality rates for mesothelioma in England. Barrow-in-Furness tops the list with a mortality rate three times the average for England. The three areas with the highest mortality rates for mesothelioma are:

A building firm in Battersea has been fined for failing to highlight the known presence of asbestos insulating board (AIB) at a warehouse.

As a result of this failing, a foreman and others were exposed to potential harm when the AIB was ripped out during refurbishment work.

The company was in possession of a detailed asbestos survey that clearly identified the location of the asbestos wall panels inside the building, but failed to share this with the team on the ground. As a result, when a foreman mistook the AIB for asbestos cement – a lower risk material – it was removed without adequate control measures and protective equipment.

A new project was launched recently to help inform future research into the best way to treat and care for mesothelioma sufferers.

The survey is being conducted by the ‘Mesothelioma Priority Setting Partnership’ (PSP), which was recently set up by non-profit group the James Lind Alliance and is being funded by the National Institute for Health Research, a government body.

A deadly disease

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that mainly affects the lining of the lungs and is caused by breathing in asbestos fibres. The disease is usually fatal, and symptoms do not become apparent until decades after the initial exposure, by which point it is too late for surgical intervention.

A woman who contracted mesothelioma after washing her husband’s asbestos-contaminated clothing has been awarded £700,000 in damages, reports the Evening Standard.

Ronald Haxton died in 2009 from mesothelioma that he contracted as a result of exposure to asbestos dust during his job dismantling old boilers. His wife, Monica, used to hand-wash his overalls that were covered with the asbestos dust, and in 2012 she was diagnosed with the same fatal condition.

Mr Haxton’s employers had admitted liability for his death, but had rejected a negligence claim over her own terminal illness. However, the Appeal Court found in Mrs Haxton’s favour and ordered the company to pay compensation.