Workplace Report December 2007

Health & safety - HSE Monitor

Pleural plaques campaign

Unions are seeking to overturn a recent legal ruling that will deny compensation to people diagnosed with pleural plaques – a lung condition, caused by asbestos exposure, which increases the risk of developing fatal lung diseases.

Michael Clapham MP has put down an early day motion on the issue (EDM 207), and a petition has been posted on the Downing Street website at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/pleuralplaques/.

The petition urges the prime minister to “address the decision by the House of Lords on 17 October where they rejected claims of asbestos victims, deeming that they had not suffered a ‘compensatable’ injury. This decision will concern many people who are affected by pleural plaques.”