Bassetlaw MP John Mann has welcomed today’s proposals to provide faster compensation to all people diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Currently only people who contract mesothelioma from direct asbestos exposure at work are able to claim lump sum compensation from the state. The new proposals, set out today by the Government, would provide up-front financial support (within six weeks) to people who were previously not eligible, including:

1. People exposed to asbestos indirectly from a relative (e.g. from someone else’s work overalls)
2. People exposed to asbestos because of where they live (e.g. near a factory using asbestos)
3. Self-employed people
4. People who cannot trace their exposure to asbestos

The current situation means that only people who receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit can claim state compensation under the Workers Compensation Act of 1979.  The proposals announced today would break the occupational link and would mean that all those suffering from mesothelioma would be able to claim compensation irrespective of their work histories or employment status (unless they have already received compensation through personal injury claims against their employer).

The Government’s new proposals will take affect as soon as new legislation is passed.

John Mann has welcomed this announcement:

“Mesothelioma is the biggest killer of all industrial diseases. It is a great injustice that many people do not get compensation before they die, or cannot get compensation because of the way they were exposed to asbestos. It is irrelevant whether someone is exposed to asbestos working in heavy industry or if they were exposed by breathing in particles from their dad’s work overalls; asbestos is a killer however someone is exposed to it.”

“I welcome today’s announcement that more people with mesothelioma will be able to get compensation and that the process will be faster. These proposals are about justice for the thousands of people suffering from this deadly cancer.”

Mesothelioma is the most common cause of work-related death and it is estimated that 1 out of every 100 men born between 1940 and 1950 will die of the disease. The disease is caused almost exclusively by asbestos and is a cancer of the lining of the lungs and abdomen. It is nearly always fatal with an average of just 9 months between diagnosis and death. The disease does not develop for between 30-40 years after exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma deaths are predicted to peak between 2010 and 2015 when it is estimated that up to 2500 people will die because of the disease.

Between 2006 and 2020 up to 30,000 people in the UK will die from mesothelioma.

Cases of mesothelioma are most common in people who worked in certain industries including ship building and heavy engineering.

However there is now an increase in cases amongst people who worked in jobs with less direct exposure to asbestos including carpentry, electricians, demolition workers and people who worked in buildings where asbestos had been used in the building construction.