The crucial importance of asbestos surveying has been underlined even further with the news that David Cameron has vowed to review the way veterans exposed to asbestos during their service are compensated for terminal illnesses that result.
Laws currently prevent the Ministry of Defence from being sued due to either illness or injury caused prior to 1987, leaving many dying of mesothelioma – a deadly and debilitating lung disease – on just their war pension. This means that around 2,500 Royal Navy veterans go without any settlement money.
Prime Minister’s Questions recently saw David Cameron questioned by Labour MP Dave Anderson over this unfair treatment, which sees a pension of around £31,000 a year stacking up against the expected £180,000 lump sum a 63-year-old civilian could expect from the Government’s compensation scheme.
The Prime Minister responded that the military establishment is “one of the most important things that we have – when we make a promise to our military that, because of the sacrifices they make on our behalf, they should not have less good treatment than other groups of people.” He indicated that the matter was currently being investigated by the Defence Secretary.
This comes just days after The Independent revealed the significant difference in compensation levels awarded to civilians and veterans. Chris Simpkins, director general of The Royal British Legion, commented: “We welcome the fact the Prime Minister has said that both he and the Defence Secretary will look into the current situation regarding compensating veterans suffering from cancer as a result of being exposed to asbestos while serving.”
It’s always hard to hear about the ways in which our often undervalued veterans have been exposed to the lethal effects of asbestos, and the situation drives home clearer than ever the importance of asbestos surveying. Surveys are vital when you are working at an unfamiliar site and don’t know how to recognise and work safely with this lethal substance.
Failing to conduct a survey and properly manage the situation doesn’t just put your health at risk – it leaves everyone on your site vulnerable to the devastating effects of asbestos exposure. Those effects may take decades to appear, but you can act right now to prevent those using your workplace from being put at risk.
