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What is Mesothelioma?
"Mesothelioma (malignant)"
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. It affects the linings of the cavities around the lungs, stomach, and heart. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, but the cancer usually does not appear until 10 to 40 years after a person first inhales asbestos.
Attention: Health and industrial editors, health, safety and personnel media
TUC wants legal right to know if the place where you live or work is contaminated with asbestos
In a submission to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) on new asbestos Regulations, published today (Saturday), the TUC has welcomed the HSC proposals to require employers to survey their buildings for asbestos, but calls for a public register of the asbestos in British buildings, such as homes, hospitals, schools and other workplaces.
The TUC believes that the public and workers should have a right to know where there is asbestos in the 850,000 commercial premises, 400,000 flats and 150,000 houses which contain the fatal fibre. The public register should be freely accessible, for example on the internet.
TUC General Secretary John Monks said:
'Every year, 4,500 people die from asbestos-related diseases in Great Britain, and the main source of exposure in the future will be from the decay and disturbance of asbestos in premises across Britain. The TUC has long campaigned on this issue and strongly welcomes the CommissionŐs proposals, although we would like to see them go further.
'We welcome in particular the provisions for union safety reps to be involved in the management of asbestos risks, and will be producing guidance for safety reps on how to make the most of the opportunities presented by the Regulations.
'The public and workers must have a legal right to know if they are living or working in the vicinity of asbestos through a public register of asbestos in buildings.
'The protection promised by the new regulations rightly concentrates on those most at risk - workers engaged in repair, renovation and removal as well as workers in the emergency services. But the needs of others, such as the general public and workers in buildings with asbestos present, also need to be addressed.
'In the long run, all asbestos in all British buildings needs to be removed. As a start, however, the regulations proposed by the Commission should be brought into force without delay.'
The TUC also wants to see:
- more people protected
In addition to the groups of workers most at risk, there are new waves of workers and people who although less at risk, are still exposed to the possibility of disease, disablement and death. The TUC wants these people to be covered by the regulations and wants to see the proposed regulations strengthened to include accidental or potential, rather than simply planned, disturbance of asbestos.
- faster implementation of the new Regulations
The TUC wants to see the changes set out in the Commission proposals introduced as soon as possible. A one-year implementation deadline is more appropriate than 18 months or two years, as suggested for different parts of the Regulations.
Notes to Editors:
All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.
The full TUC submission "Starting to clear out the fatal fibre - managing the risks of asbestos in premises", is available on the TUC website www.tuc.org.uk. The submission is in response to the HSE consultative document (CD 176) on "Revised proposals for amendments to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations and a new supporting Approved Code of Practice."
Contacts:
Media enquiries: 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email media@tuc.org.uk
Other enquiries: Owen Tudor, Senior Policy Officer, on 020 7467 1325 or 07788 715261 or at otudor@tuc.org.uk
Mesothelioma Info
There are three distinct types of mesothelioma one can suffer from: pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the peritoneum) and pericardial mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the pericardium). Mesothelioma symptoms vary dependent on what type of mesothelioma one suffers from.
If you are suffering from malignant mesothelioma, it is important that you get up-to-date information about the latest mesothelioma treatment options available. Contact a mesothelioma attorney or asbestos lawyer to get information regarding you rights to compensation.