Wednesday, 04 July 2007

Construction Union Welcomes Government Action For Mesothelioma Sufferers

Construction union UCATT have welcomed the Government’s move to make it easier for victims of mesothelioma to claim compensation.

The Government are introducing the new compensation measures as part of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, which is having its Second Reading in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 4 July).

The proposed reforms will make it easier for mesothelioma victims to claim a lump sum compensation payment from the Government. The process of paying compensation will also be speeded up.

For the first time the payment can also be paid to a victims dependents, if the sufferer has already died. Compensation will also be payable to everyone who contracts mesothelioma, including self-employed workers and relatives who were exposed due to a relative working with asbestos. Previously compensation was only available if the disease was contracted in the work place

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “This legislation is warmly welcomed. The Government is moving in the right direction in helping to alleviate the suffering of victims of this terrible disease.”

Mesothelioma is an incurable form of lung cancer, usually caused by the exposure to asbestos fibres. There are currently around 1,800 mesothelioma cases every year. Deaths are expected to peak between 20111 and 2015.

Deaths of construction workers, due to mesothelioma are expected to increase in future. Workers involved in renovating properties where asbestos is present are highly vulnerable to exposure.

The payment of compensation will not prevent affected workers pursuing a civil claim against an employer.