Freeclaim Solicitors News
The Dangers of Asbestos in Schools
Tue 18th Aug 09 - 9:57
In the past, asbestos was widely used in the building of schools, particularly in ceilings, wall linings and pipe lagging. The Government has now estimated that asbestos-containing materials can be found in at least 70% of schools in England.
The Asbestos in Schools campaign claims thousands of pupils and teachers are at risk from exposure to asbestos and asbestos related illnesses. Over the last 25 years, over 178 teachers have tragically died from asbestos related cancer mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a devastating and very aggressive form of cancer which kills almost 2000 people per year. Nationally it is thought that at least 16 teachers die each year from asbestos related illness and more worryingly this figure is set to increase.
In a recent asbestos compensation case, a teacher from Liverpool received £240,000 compensation from her local council after being exposed as a child to asbestos dust when she attended her local secondary school in the 1970's. To succeed in her claim, she had to show that she had been in regular contact with asbestos fibres in the school. During her time at school, the ceiling tiles in question had been removed several times for maintenance work at the school and pupils had also removed when playing pranks.
In another case a brave teacher received a standing ovation at a teaching union conference when she made an impassioned plea for asbestos to be removed from all schools by 2012. The terminally ill teacher, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma last year after being exposed to asbestos dust over her 30 year career said, "I did not expect to end my career with an industrial illness."
She went on to say, "Why should a teacher expect to get an industrial disease? The pain can be worse than lung cancer. It's too late for me, but it's not too late to get rid of asbestos."
Freeclaim Solicitors have the complex legal experience to deal with asbestosis and mesothelioma compensation claims. Our key aim is to minimise the trauma and stress that asbestos related diseases can cause.
Freeclaim accident compensation solicitors can help with all types of claims for asbestos exposure at schools, shipyards, industrial environments and many more. Call our specialist asbestos and mesothelioma solicitors on 0800 24 34 09 or contact us online.