Mesothelioma Lawyers

Posts Tagged ‘Asbestos Dust’

The military is constantly developing ways to ensure soldiers safety. New materials are always being developed, tested, and used in different applications to ensure that our armed forces are able to protect the United States utilizing the most advanced means possible. Asbestos has been used in many different applications throughout all branches of the armed services. Asbestos can cause many different illnesses, including the rare form of cancer mesothelioma. Asbestos caustic and dangerous properties, in regards to it’s properties that are harmful to people, were not fully recognized in the early twentieth century. The materials versatility and resistance to heat, fire, and many chemicals were apparent, and this led to every branch of the military using the material in a wide array of applications. As asbestos was researched more and it’s dangerous properties were recognized, the military began to phase out the use of this mesothelioma causing material. Navy ships and shipyards seemed to have had the highest instances of mesothelioma and asbestos related diseases. This is most likely due to the fact that during demolition and maintenance of ships in the shipyards the asbestos dust was at a high level, making nearly impossible to escape exposure. It is estimated that nearly thirty percent of mesothelioma patients are veterans. Mesothelioma takes years sometimes before visible symptoms are shown by a victim. This makes it very difficult to treat mesothelioma in it’s early stages. Most veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma served twenty to thirty years prior to their diagnosis. It is not known exactly how many living veterans were exposed to asbestos during their military service, but it is estimated in the millions.
Courtesy of XViD Codec

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A 73-year-old retired prison electrician who is dying from an asbestos-related cancer has launched a legal battle for compensation of up to £150,000.

Terence Clare has malignant mesothelioma, a terminal cancer which affects the lining of his lungs, which he says is as a result of being exposed to asbestos.

Now Mr Clare, of Main Road, Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury, is claiming damages from HM Prison Service. He claims he was exposed to asbestos dust and fibres when he worked at HMP Holloway in London from 1976 to 2000, according to a High Court writ.

As part of his duties he had to access electric cabling for repair and maintenance, housed inside a suspended ceiling on the “trolley route”, and had to remove asbestos tiles which scraped releasing dust, the writ says.

When he worked in the suspended ceiling area the atmosphere was heavily contaminated with asbestos dust, the writ adds.

Mr Clare first became breathless and started coughing in 2008, and six months later x-rays showed a problem with his left lung.

Despite radiotherapy, he suffers from chest pain, breathlessness and loss of appetite, and faces a life expectancy of less than one year, the writ adds.

Without mesothelioma, he could have expected to live another 11.6 years, and is claiming damages to reflect the lost years of his life, the writ says.

He says the prison serviced failed to provide him with proper protection or ventilation, failed to warn him of the dangers of working in an asbestos contaminated atmosphere, and allowed him to work unprotected in a contaminated atmosphere knowing it would cause lung injury.

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