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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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If you have worked previously, or are currently employed, at a farm and are experiencing breathing problems, you might be a victim of an asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma and could be entitled to make an asbestos claim.
The dangers on a farm are largely caused by the vehicles used to make various jobs easier for the farmer and employees. HSE statistics show that being run down by specialist farming transport accounts for 27% of all fatalities in the agricultural sector.
However, 40% of people working in the agricultural sector suffer from respiratory problems and although some may be caused by farmer's lung, there is also a risk, when working around farm buildings, of breathing in asbestos fibres.
The HSE warn those involved with the agricultural industry that most farms are likely to have asbestos in some of the buildings. Before the dangers which asbestos posed to health were recognised, the deadly mineral was widely used to strengthen building materials or make them more fire resistant or sound insulated.
As a result of its widespread use up to the mid 1980s, all buildings built prior to this time may contain asbestos, and farm buildings, which may not have been maintained well since their erection, could be even more dangerous due to the asbestos being in a poor condition.
Asbestos is not a great risk to people's health if it is in a good condition. Left largely undefended from the elements, farm buildings might not get looked after as well as a building in which people live. This could make the building a health risk if some of its original building materials contain asbestos.
The Control of Asbestos Regulations, 2006, make it a requirement for farm owners and any lease holding farm tenants to take responsibility for maintenance of buildings and survey the condition of all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on the farm site. Once a survey has been undertaken, the information gathered on the condition of the ACMs found should help the individual responsible for the buildings decide what action to take on the presence of asbestos.
Everyone working on a farm, especially contractors who could disturb asbestos during work on a building, should be made aware that asbestos is present. Parts of buildings which have been identified as containing asbestos should be labelled.
Once a farmer is aware that some of the buildings on the site contain the dangerous material, they should take steps to protect the health of those working on the farm. This could mean providing employees with correct protective clothing, or removing asbestos from the building.
Disturbing asbestos is dangerous and can lead to mesothelioma and other serious health problems should the tiny fibres enter the lungs. The safest thing to do when asbestos is in poor condition and must be removed, is to employ contractors who specialise in asbestos removal.
Would you like to make an asbestos claim with us?
Asbestosis can cause pain, suffering and loss of earnings. If you want to find out if you could be eligible to make an asbestos claim and get compensation for the deterioration of your health and the problems it causes in your day-to-day life, then just contact us by filling in our short online claim form, getting advice on live help, or phoning one of our helpful team members on 0800 10 757 95.
We could help you with your asbestos claim and get you 100% compensation, because we never take any of your remuneration.
