A report in the Guardian newspaper claims that the global campaign to ban asbestos has been infiltrated by a ‘spy’ working in corporate intelligence. Corporate investigation firm, K2 Intelligence Ltd, are said to have employed someone to infiltrate anti-asbestos groups around the world, with a view to uncovering their plans for obtaining an asbestos ban. […]
Category Archives: Asbestos news
Asbestos crisis in Northern Ireland homes
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) is facing crisis as hundreds of homes are found to contain asbestos. Around 5,000 properties in total could potentially be affected, with tenants warned not to access certain areas of their rented properties. The Housing Executive states they are taking steps to remove the toxic substance, but serious health […]
Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure
Malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer attributed solely to asbestos exposure. According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics, around 2,500 people die each year from this aggressive disease, a figure that shows no sign of abating until at least the end of this decade. The high incidence of occupational exposure to asbestos, from […]
Personal and Respiratory Protective Equipment: What you need to use
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, 2012, employers are required by law to protect their workers’ health and safety. This includes the provision of awareness training for any worker likely to encounter asbestos, as well as providing appropriate personal and respiratory protective equipment. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can prosecute employers who fail in […]
High insurance cost of asbestos claims
The cost to insurers of asbestos compensation claims has been forecast at $100 billion. It is said the asbestos industry as a whole has already paid out around $64 billion for exposing workers to the toxic substance. This rising cost of compensation for asbestos exposure can be attributed to various factors, including our increased life […]
Relief for asbestos victims as government reverses plans to delete employment records
The government has decided to cancel plans to destroy employment records at Companies House six years after the closure of a company. The existing situation whereby records are retained for 20 years will now continue – a triumph for those who campaigned against the proposals. Asbestos illness generally manifests several decades following the original exposure, […]
Types of asbestos in schools
Asbestos in schools has been the topic of longstanding debate between campaigners who want it removed completely, and others including government ministers, who insist it is safe to be left if intact. Unfortunately for tradespeople and school maintenance workers, it is unlikely that schools built prior to the asbestos ban of 1999 will be free […]
Illegal dumping of asbestos and toxic waste is “Italy’s Chernobyl”
The illegal dumping of toxic waste is a worldwide problem that affects our environment in a number of ways. Toxins seep into our water supply, contaminate the soil, and can cause untold suffering for those who come into contact with them. Southern Italy is a case in point, as the area has experienced immeasurable problems […]
Huge impact of asbestos on Barrow shipyard workers
The dreadful legacy of asbestos has taken its toll on workers in many industries, but shipbuilding is one that has suffered considerable turmoil. Statistics show that Barrow has three times the number of asbestos deaths when compared with the national average, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Vickers Armstrong was one […]
What are the implications of the new presidency for US asbestos victims?
A huge issue for victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease is the long latency period between original exposure and the onset of symptoms. During this time, which is often many decades, asbestos fibres inhaled by the victim can cause genetic changes in the body. Once shortness of breath, a chronic cough, chest pain and […]