Asbestos in Victoria – the second wave and danger of DIY renovations

Managing a legal claim for asbestos related illness is a very specialised legal area. Our team of legal professionals at Gordon Legal can assist you in your claim for compensation for asbestos related illness, offering not only expert advice but also the care and consideration you need while you manage your illness.

If you believe that you may have been exposed to or have developed an illness related to the exposure of asbestos, then there are a few things you should consider and we have assembled some basic asbestos information here which may help.

What is asbestos and how do you develop an illness from exposure?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals mined and used for building and insulation products around the world. It was mined and used extensively in Australia up until the middle of the 1980’s. Products which contain asbestos may include:

• Asbestos cement (AC) sheeting
• AC pipes
• Insulation (lagging) on pipes, boilers, generators
• Sprayed (limpet) asbestos on beams
• Brake and clutch products
• Asbestos millboard
• In ground pits and conduits

Asbestos related illnesses occur once the fibres of the material are inhaled and retained within the lungs. Some of the most common asbestos related illness are:

• Pleural plaques
• Asbestos related pleural disease (ARPD)
• Asbestosis
• Lung cancer
• Mesothelioma

Exposure to asbestos

Firstly, developing an asbestos related illness after exposure is not a guarantee. These conditions are very rare and most people do not actually develop a disease after exposure. However, there is also no safe or accepted level of exposure. If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos while at work then you should stop work immediately and inform your employer with an Incident Notification Form. It is also wise to seek advice from your union.

Removal of asbestos is a strictly regulated process and only firms and individuals with the correct training and equipment are permitted to undertake any form of removal. If you believe that you have been requested to remove asbestos and you do not have the training or qualifications required, seek professional guidance immediately. If you are an employee then feel free to contact us on 1800 21 22 23 for help or seek guidance from your union representative.

You can register your exposure to asbestos with Gordon Legal at www.gordonlegal.com.au.

Claiming for asbestos related illness

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related illness then you are likely to be eligible to claim compensation. It is not uncommon to claim even if your circumstances include factors such as:

• Your previous employer is no longer in business
• You were self-employed
• You were a smoker
• You are not sure where you were exposed
• You were exposed while renovating a domestic residence
• You have been exposed multiple times, in multiple locations

Once you have received a confirmed diagnosis, we recommend that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. Asbestos related law is very detailed and complicated, and expert legal teams exist to manage these types of claims, like our team at Gordon Legal. Peter Gordon first successfully litigated asbestos claims in 1985 and since then has successfully resolved more than 2,000 cases. Victoria Keays is an Accredited Specialist in personal injury law who has been litigating dust disease and asbestos claims for more than a decade. Together Victoria and Peter are Victoria’s most experienced asbestos and dust diseases litigation team.

Our team of specialists will be able to advise and assist you with your claim correctly on your individual circumstances. As these types of illnesses often have very serious health consequences, ensuring that your claim is lodged immediately is critical to make sure your claim is protected for you and your loved ones. Contact us today on 1800 21 22 23.