Injury lawyers warns thousands still exposed to asbestos

A specialist injury lawyer has said that thousands of workers are still exposed to the dangers of asbestos.

Sarah Hunt, head of the Birmingham Personal Injury Team at law firm Shoosmiths, has said that thousands of UK workers could still be at risk from the dangers of asbestos due to lack of awareness surrounding the hazardous material.

Highlighting the problem, Hunt revealed: "There remains a lack of awareness about the dangers of asbestos. A recent survey by The British Lung Foundation revealed that of 399 tradesmen questioned, only 12% knew that asbestos could cause mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer."

Although asbestos was widely used as insulation and fireproofing material between the 1950s and 1980s, Hunt has explained that any building refurbished or constructed before the year 2000 could potentially contain the carcinogenic material. However, it is a common misconception among tradesmen that the majority of asbestos has been removed from the UK.