Asbestos and mesothelioma continue to be serious problems in the United Kingdom, although statistics show that the number of new diagnoses is finally decreasing.[1] Many major manufacturers in the country, including big names like Turner & Newall, contributed to high rates of asbestos-related illnesses. Laws protecting workers did not exist until the 1980s.[2]
Facts About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in the UK
The U.S. began regulating asbestos use and banning certain products containing this potentially dangerous mineral in the 1970s.
However, the UK did not begin regulating asbestos for almost another decade. The result is some of the highest mesothelioma rates in the world.
Here are some other facts about asbestos and mesothelioma in the UK:[1]
- Mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer account for 40% of fatal occupational lung diseases.
- There are more than 5,000 asbestos-related deaths in the UK every year.
- In 2021, 2,268 deaths were attributed to mesothelioma. Nearly as many deaths that year were attributed to asbestos lung cancer.
- There were 537 deaths from asbestosis in 2021.
- Asbestos-related deaths in the UK have been level for many years and are now finally beginning to drop.
- Men who worked in building trades have the highest rates of asbestos illnesses in the UK.
- Any building constructed before the year 2000 may contain asbestos.
- Millions of homes and other buildings are known to have asbestos. Estimates suggest that six million tons linger in buildings in the UK.
- The number of women diagnosed with mesothelioma has leveled off. Men continue to be at much higher risk.
Is Asbestos Banned in the UK?
The UK banned asbestos in 1999. The ban prohibits the use of asbestos in new materials and the importation of asbestos. There is no law that requires existing asbestos to be removed, so it lingers in many buildings.
Where Was Asbestos Used in the UK?
Asbestos was heavily used throughout the UK in various industries due to its low weight, flexibility, and ability to insulate and resist heat and fire. Certain areas in the UK saw particularly heavy use, including:
- Glasgow
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Portsmouth
- North and South Tyneside
- Barrow-in-Furness
- Plymouth
- Southampton
- Eastleigh
- Sunderland
Some examples of industries that used asbestos include factories of all types, chemical plants, oil refineries, power plants, construction, and shipbuilding.[3]
Several large companies, including Turner & Newall and Johns Manville, were responsible for creating many of the country’s products that contained asbestos. Examples of products made and used in the UK with asbestos are:
- Insulation
- Pipe lagging
- Ceiling tiles
- Bath panels
- Soffits
- Cement sheets
- Asbestos cloth
- Fireproofing materials
- Siding
- Roofing shingles and cement
- Flooring tiles
- Wallboard
- Clutches and brakes in cars
- Ovens, stoves, and other kitchen appliances
- Furnaces and wood-burning stoves
- Many materials that went into ships
Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in the UK?
Before the 1980s, nearly every type of trade in the UK put workers at risk of being exposed to asbestos; however, some were more at risk than others, including workers in shipbuilding and ship repair.
As in the U.S., asbestos was heavily used in boilers, insulation, fireproofing, protective gear, and other areas of both civilian and military ships.
This means that both civilians and members of the Navy were at risk of asbestos exposure. As with U.S. Navy veterans, UK veterans face higher rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses than the general population.
Other types of UK workers who were at significant risk include construction workers, carpenters, plasterers, roofers, demolition workers, HVAC repairers and installers, and painters.
Maintenance workers, teachers, pipefitters, plumbers, electricians, joiners, and boilermakers also experienced an increased risk of asbestos exposure.[3]
Who Is Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in the UK Today?
Because so many buildings in the UK contain asbestos, it is not just workers who may be exposed. Anyone who works in an older building or lives in a home built before 2000 could be exposed to asbestos.
Exposure risks increase when repair, maintenance, and renovation work is being done on one of these buildings.[1]
School buildings were often constructed with asbestos materials, which linger and put teachers and students at risk of exposure. As recently as 2019, almost 700 schools in the UK were found to have failed to safely manage asbestos.[4]
Another newly discovered source of asbestos exposure both in the U.S. and the UK is talcum powder. Talc can be contaminated with asbestos. Years of use of these products have led to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma in some women.
UK Asbestos Regulations and Laws
Early UK laws relating to asbestos did not ban or limit use but did aim to protect workers. In 1969, the Asbestos Regulations were designed to control asbestos exposure on job sites.[5]
Unfortunately, many of these laws had only a limited impact. The law was changed in 1993 and 2002 to require companies to use safer substitutes for asbestos where available and that workplaces identify where asbestos is located.
The first laws regulating and limiting asbestos in the UK were not written until the mid-1980s:
- The first law, in 1985, banned the use and import of blue and brown asbestos.
- The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations came into effect in 1987. They required companies to substitute safer materials for asbestos whenever possible. In 2002, amendments to the bill required employers to identify asbestos and provide safety measures for workers.
- In 1992, most white asbestos was banned, and in 1999, all white, or chrysotile, asbestos was banned.
- In the 1990s, a new law required that asbestos insulation work be done by licensed and trained professionals.
- In 2006, the Control of Asbestos Regulations Act was passed.[6] This law combined all previous regulations into one, placing an effective ban on the import and use of asbestos. Existing asbestos can remain in place if it is undisturbed, but no new uses of asbestos are allowed, thanks to this law.
- Scotland passed the Damages Act in 2009 to allow people who developed pleural plaques from asbestos could receive compensation.
- In 2012, the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 went into effect. It updated earlier regulations related to asbestos based on criticisms from the European Commission that the UK was not implementing all necessary safety rules. It included the requirement that non-licensed asbestos work must include a notification, record keeping, and medical surveillance by a doctor.[7]
Asbestos and Mesothelioma Compensation and Lawsuits
Workers and others affected by asbestos in the UK have had to fight for justice and compensation. Civil lawsuits brought by victims and families are sometimes successful, but many victims struggle to make their case. There are also other sources of compensation for victims.
Insurance Compensation
The latency period for mesothelioma is decades-long, and once symptoms of illness begin to present, remembering details of workplace exposure is challenging. It is also hard to trace an insurer from so long ago.
In 2012, the government tried to compensate victims by establishing a new payment scheme. Insurers contribute to a pool of money, which victims can draw from.
The only issue is that the payments are usually only 80% of what the victim would get if they had gone through a civil lawsuit. In 2014, the compensation amount increased from £115,000 to £123,000.[8]
Other Benefits for Mesothelioma Patients in the UK
The insurance scheme is not the only resource for UK victims of asbestos exposure. For those over the pension age, these benefits are available:
- Industrial injuries disablement benefits
- Attendance allowance
- Constant attendance allowance
- Government lump sum
- Pension credit
- Council tax support
- Blue badge
- Housing benefit
For anyone who has mesothelioma and is under the state pension age, these benefits may be available:
- Industrial injuries disablement benefit
- Constant attendance allowance
- Government lump sum
- Statutory sick pay
- Personal independence payment
- Universal credit
- Employment and support allowance
- Council tax support
- Blue badge
- Prescription charges
Asbestos Lawsuits in the UK
There have been several successful lawsuits for those victims who chose to go through the courts to get compensation.
In one notable and large recent case, more than 6,000 families fought four large insurance companies trying to minimize asbestos compensation. The families won, and the companies may have to pay as much as £600 million.[9]
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in the UK
Due to the relatively large number of mesothelioma diagnoses in the UK, several places offer specialty care.
One of the most reputable cancer treatments in the country is the Royal Marsden Hospital. This hospital has facilities in Surrey and London. Royal Marsden is one of the oldest cancer hospitals in the world, offering specialty and multi-disciplinary care for mesothelioma patients.
Other locations where victims can receive specialty care include:
- The London Lung Cancer Center at London Bridge Hospital
- London Chest Hospital
- Christie Hospital in Manchester
- Glenfield Hospital in Leicester
- Papworth Hospital in Cambridge
- St. Bartholomew’s and Guy’s Hospital, both in London
Workers and residents in the United Kingdom have been victims of asbestos exposure. For UK citizens, however, the laws designed to protect and compensate came several years later.
Victims of asbestos exposure in the UK now face serious illness, and there is an increased need for specialty care and compensation. Because many UK citizens are still at risk of exposure, they need to know where asbestos is and how to stay protected from exposure.
