According to Wales Online, Glan Clywd hospital in Rhyl had to evacuate some of its patients recently when the presence of asbestos dust was suspected in six of the wards. Some operations also had to be cancelled as a result. Although not officially confirmed as asbestos, contractors with specialist breathing equipment and protective outerwear entered the […]
Monthly Archives: September 2015
Site of former asbestos factory could be “Rochdale’s Chernobyl”
Turner Brothers Asbestos Company once had the dubious honour of being the largest asbestos factory in the world. Located in the Spodden Valley near Rochdale, the factory was sold in 1998 with around £263,000 of compensation claims pending. The site was eventually sold to property developers in 2004. Controversy arose with local residents when the […]
Poor asbestos awareness led to fine for heating engineer
It’s not just commercial properties that present an ongoing danger from asbestos. Any residential home built after 1999 could contain the substance, posing a potential health risk to tradespeople and homeowners alike. The dangerous presence of asbestos in our buildings was highlighted recently when a self-employed heating engineer was taken to court by the Health […]
Asbestos found in children’s crayons
Children’s crayons presented in packaging with popular cartoon logos have been found to contain asbestos. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has revealed that the crayons tested positive for traces of the substance, and their importation from China has been banned. The inclusion of familiar cartoon characters on the packaging, including Dora the Explorer, […]
Sweden’s asbestos ban and the reduction of mesothelioma
Iceland, Norway and Sweden were among the first countries in the world to ban the use of asbestos. Sweden’s trade unions and employers agreed to ban the product in their construction and shipbuilding industries as early as the mid-1970s – very forward-looking when you consider that it was only banned in the UK construction industry […]
Closure of Bloomsbury Theatre due to asbestos
University College London’s Bloomsbury Theatre has recently closed due to the discovery of asbestos within the auditorium. Construction works at the theatre in central London were already in the pipeline for the beginning of next year, but closure has happened four months sooner than expected. As a result, alternative venues have had to be found […]
Asbestos compensation issue in Scotland
Pleural plaques is a condition caused by exposure to asbestos dust and fibres. It affects the linings of the lungs, which thicken over a period of time. Although the disease is not life-threatening, being diagnosed with pleural plaques is a clear sign that the victim has had prolonged exposure to asbestos. An issue has arisen […]
Asbestos issues are experienced globally
The danger posed by asbestos is a global issue, and despite the fact that the substance is banned in over 50 countries, people around the world are still suffering the adverse effects of exposure to the substance. The overuse and misuse of asbestos in past decades has resulted in thousands of victims suffering from long-term […]