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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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Making an asbestos claim can be a daunting prospect, but here at YouClaim we are dedicated to serving our clients' best interests at all times and thereby achieving the most favourable outcome in their asbestos compensation cases.
However, not all agencies which deal with asbestos in its mineral form have the same ethos at heart and if those who are charged with clean-up operations for a site contaminated with asbestos do not acquit themselves properly of this task, there are likely to be severe consequences.
In April 2010, it was reported that an industrial tribunal had investigated the working practices of two companies carrying out demolition work on the Courtaulds site in Carrickfergus and the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) handling of the finding of asbestos on the site.
The tribunal heard that two notices had been served by the HSE against the two firms after inspectors visited the site in the summer of 2009 and found dangerous working practices involving a lack of safety equipment and proper scaffolding for personnel engaged in work on top of a contaminated boiler.
An independent analyst had taken samples from the boiler which was due for demolition and these indicated that there was no asbestos or asbestos containing materials (ACMs) present.
However, later tests showed that brown asbestos had contaminated an area of 1,700 square metres around the boiler which had also put other workers from Northern Ireland Electricity (NIA), who were working at the site, at great risk of asbestos exposure.
At the tribunal the two firms involved in working on the boiler claimed that when they left the site no asbestos contamination had been present and that someone else must have brought it to the site, however, the tribunal rejected this plea.
The tribunal also criticised the HSE for not taking enough steps to protect all site workers from the risks of asbestos exposure
A statement from the tribunal panel concluded, "The risk posed by the asbestos contamination of 1,700 square metres of this site should have been ameliorated much more quickly and not left to chance and the elements.
"It seems extraordinary to us that having identified a risk of serious personal injury and after sampling had shown a wide area of contamination and further that third parties (NIE) were identified as having access to the site... the HSE took absolutely no steps to minimise the risk until the tribunal expressed its disquiet and concern.
"This led, belatedly, to a clean-up of the area by the appellants to the satisfaction of the HSE and the independent analyst."
Making an asbestos claim with YouClaim
Exposure to asbestos may not immediately be the cause of any problems for a worker as the cancers formed by exposure to the deadly fibres can often take many years to become apparent and be diagnosed.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure you could be eligible to make a claim for asbestos compensation.
The expert no win, no fee compensation solicitors at YouCLaim have many years experience in this field and are amongst the most successful litigation specialists in this field. What's more, they are governed by the strict tenets of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and their professionalism is therefore guaranteed.
Call us today on 0800 10 757 95 to make an asbestos claim, have a real time echat online or fill in an internet claim form and we will call you back at a time to suit you.
