What’s secondary asbestos exposure?

Secondary asbestos exposure is used to describe situations where people have been exposed to asbestos despite not working with it directly. Asbestos was used extensively in the building industry before the UK banned it’s use in 1999.

As a result, secondary asbestos exposure regularly occurred before this time. For example, when workers came home in clothing contaminated with asbestos fibres, which was then washed and handled by their loved ones. When the items were shaken off before washing, the clouds of dust and fibres were inevitably inhaled by the workers’ family members.

While many might not consider themselves to be at risk of asbestos-related diseases without having worked directly with asbestos, because asbestos-related diseases can develop from low levels of exposure to asbestos dust and fibres, secondary asbestos exposure can also lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Who’s at risk of secondary asbestos exposure?

Traditionally, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have affected men at a much higher rate than women. In the UK in 2016, there were 2,197 male deaths recorded compared with 398 female mesothelioma deaths. This is largely due to the nature of traditional job roles during the 1960s-1980s, when materials containing asbestos were especially commonplace. This was particularly the case in the construction, engineering, plumbing, joinery, and electrical industries which were dominated by male workers at the time.

However, in recent years there’s been a notable increase in the number of cases of mesothelioma in women. This has been attributed in large to women and children being exposed to asbestos in the home because of a husband or father bringing asbestos dust into the home after a day working in an environment with asbestos.

The sad reality is that anybody who lived in a home into which asbestos was brought on the work clothes of a family member was at risk of secondary exposure to asbestos.

How’re people exposed to secondary asbestos?

Many employers simply didn’t do enough for their employees and failed to take steps to minimise the risk of asbestos exposure in the workplace. Further, very few employers gave any thought to the subsequent risk of secondary asbestos exposure outside of the workplace.

Without adequate facilities for employees to shower or get changed before leaving work, the majority of those working with asbestos-containing materials went home in their work clothes, unknowingly contaminating their home with asbestos dust and fibres.

Asbestos fibres are often invisible to the naked eye and easily attach to the clothing, skin, and hair of an individual working around it. When the person returned home, the asbestos dust entered the household with them, contaminating the environment, sometimes without any visible trace.

Whether this was from handling the worker’s clothing to shake it out and put it in the washing machine, or even through simple familial affection and embraces after a worker returned home, many partners and children unfortunately experienced secondary asbestos exposure on a daily basis.

As would be expected, the risk of an asbestos-related disease developing increases in line with the frequency and intensity of a person’s exposure to asbestos. Still, there’s no safe level of exposure to asbestos and even exposure on a single occasion can lead to mesothelioma. Our experts regularly work with people who’ve unfortunately developed asbestos-related diseases due to secondary asbestos exposure, including those who initially aren’t aware of where they could’ve inhaled asbestos dust.

Can I make a claim for secondary asbestos exposure?

Developing an asbestos-related disease without knowingly having been exposed to asbestos dust can be both devastating and challenging. If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and are unsure where you were exposed to asbestos, or you believe that your diagnosis is the result of secondary asbestos exposure, our specialist asbestos team are here to help.

Our experts specialise in asbestos claims, and work every day with people who’ve suffered from the following diseases due to asbestos exposure:

• Mesothelioma
• Asbestosis
• Pleural thickening
• Asbestos related lung cancer
• Pleural plaques (claims are possible in Scotland and Northern Ireland only)

Being diagnosed with any of these diseases can be extremely distressing. If you’re looking to take legal action after your diagnosis, then our asbestos team are here for you. To speak to an expert today in a free, confidential consultation, simply call us today on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.

How long do secondary asbestos claims take?

Due to their nature, secondary asbestos exposure claims can be complex and require the help of an experienced and specialist lawyer. Asbestos contamination cases vary in circumstances, and identifying and proving the cause of related diseases can be complicated in cases of second hand asbestos exposure.

Because of the individual nature of secondary asbestos claims, it’s impossible to give an accurate timescale for how long your unique claim will take. When you work with our specialist asbestos team, you can rest assured that your dedicated lawyer will ensure that your claim progresses as quickly as possible, while handling every aspect with care and precision.

Where court proceedings are necessary, all asbestos cases we pursue are litigated in the specialist fast-track asbestos claims list at the Royal Courts of Justice. This ensures that our clients’ cases progress quickly and are seen in front of judges who are highly experienced in hearing asbestos claims.

To discuss your potential claim for second hand asbestos exposure with an expert today, how long your specific claim might take, and the steps we will take to progress your claim as quickly as we possibly can, call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.

What help is available for someone who’s been exposed to secondary asbestos?

Coming to terms with your diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease can be very difficult. The time after diagnosis can be filled with anxiety and fear and can be incredibly distressing for you and your family.

When you work with our experts, our asbestos lawyers will do everything possible to ensure you get the compensation you deserve to cover your treatment costs, ensure that your care needs are met, cover the cost of any specialist equipment needed to adapt your home, and to compensate you for your pain and suffering as a result of your condition.

As well as this, there are several other benefits of working with our specialist solicitors. As a leading asbestos team, our experts go above and beyond helping clients to achieve the justice and compensation they deserve, and many are active members of the asbestos support community. This allows our services to include the following:

• Charities and support organisations - Our specialists know that it's often difficult to know what to do after diagnosis of an asbestos related disease. There are several helpful support groups and charitable organisations who our team work closely with, and who offer a range of advice and assistance to those who’ve been diagnosed. Click the link for detailed information.
• Benefits and one-off payments - A common and understandable worry that many of our clients have is how their diagnosis will affect them financially. As well as through making a legal claim for compensation, there are a number of benefits and one-off payments which are available for those suffering with an asbestos related condition from secondary asbestos exposure. Click the link for detailed information.
• Compensation - The main service that our expert lawyers provide is helping you to obtain significant financial compensation in a secondary asbestos claim. If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness wrongfully caused by someone else, then you can and should be compensated for your diagnosis and losses. Our asbestos solicitors have many years of experience dealing with claims for asbestos-related illnesses and are on hand to provide you with the best available legal representation.

How much will it cost to make a secondary asbestos claim?

Many clients feel anxious about starting an asbestos claim due to worries over the cost of the process. However, we conduct all secondary asbestos exposure claims on a no win no fee basis for clients who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease. This means that if you don't win your case, you won't have to pay any legal costs, so there's no financial risk to you. As well as this, we’ll not charge any additional fees for asbestos claims, meaning you'll get to keep 100% of your compensation if your claim’s successful.

Why choose Slater and Gordon?

Slater and Gordon has a team of solicitors who’ve specialised in asbestos related illness for many years, and completely understand the complexities which can be faced in these claims. We’ve a strong reputation when it comes to successfully identifying negligent parties in these cases, and finding insurers of companies who closed their doors many years ago.

Speak to one of our specialist asbestos solicitors for your secondary asbestos exposure compensation claim today on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.