Why are carpenters more likely to develop an asbestos disease?

If you worked as a carpenter, the chances are you have been exposed to asbestos at some point in your career.

Not everyone who has been exposed to asbestos will get an asbestos disease, but for those who do, the consequences can be life-changing for them and their loved ones.

How were carpenters exposed to asbestos?

The use of all types of asbestos was banned in Britain by 1999.  However, many people who worked in industries such as building and construction routinely worked with or near asbestos for decades beforehand, in workplaces such as shipyards, building sites, workshops and as part of home renovations.

When undisturbed, the risk from asbestos is low. However, the dust created when asbestos is damaged can be dangerous, causing diseases to develop years later. These conditions include pleural thickening and asbestosis, or cancers such as mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.

Carpenters who worked on building sites or other construction sites are particularly at risk. This is because they may have been exposed directly to asbestos from the materials they directly handled, and through others handling and disturbing asbestos around them.

Carpenters often worked with or near to materials containing asbestos, include sheeting, wallboards, ceiling and floor tiles, insulation, soffits, pipework, and paint. These materials often had to be cut to size and fitted, creating dangerous asbestos dust that was breathed in by carpenters and others working around them.

Making an asbestos disease compensation claim as a carpenter

At Novum Law, our specialist asbestos disease lawyers have helped many carpenters to make an asbestos disease compensation claim.

We see first-hand how former carpenters go on to become seriously – even fatally – unwell later in life after being negligently exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

Our team know how important it is that carpenters who develop an asbestos disease can access support, compensation and justice.

Alan Jolliffe is an asbestos disease legal specialist, with decades of experience supporting former carpenters and their loved ones to make an asbestos disease claim. He says:

“Asbestos was once known as the ‘miracle mineral’ because many carpenters and other workers would routinely rely on it as an effective building material.

“However, years later the asbestos exposure has had painful consequences, which could have been avoided had many employers provided the workers in their care with proper protection.

“We want former carpenters to know that compensation is available if they develop an asbestos disease. This is still the case however long ago your asbestos exposure happened. You can also still make an asbestos compensation claim even if your employer no longer exists.

“Our expert legal team will work tirelessly to help you secure the support you need, and we urge you to get in touch today if you believe you have grounds for a claim.”

If you or a loved one has developed an asbestos disease after working as a carpenter, you may be able to claim compensation. But don’t leave it too late: you typically have 3 years to start an asbestos compensation claim after your diagnosis, or after the date of your loved one’s death.

At Novum Law, we offer ‘No Win, No Fee’ funding and have a supportive, caring team that will guide you through every step of your claim from start to finish. For a free, no obligation chat about how we can help, call us on 0800 884 0777, email info@novumlaw.com or complete our online enquiry form.