UK Mesothelioma hotspots revealed

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New figures have revealed where in the UK has the highest number of Mesothelioma-related deaths, as the latest figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show the number of deaths is the highest on record.

Between 2013 and 2022, there were more than 24,000 deaths – nearly 4000 more than the decade before. Meanwhile, Plymouth was found to have the most.

UK Mesothelioma hotspots

According to research, areas with high asbestos-related mortality like Plymouth have links to industries including shipbuilding, which in the past used materials containing asbestos before it was banned.

Other areas in the south of England with high numbers of deaths are Portsmouth with 464 Southampton with 425 and Gosport at 170, according to the data from the Health and Safety Executive.

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer often caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was commonly used as a building material up until the 1999s and used within housing insulation, and floor and ceiling tiles, among other things.

However, in the late 90s, it was made illegal to buy, sell, import or export any asbestos-containing materials after it was found to cause deadly lung diseases. But many buildings containing asbestos- – including schools and public places – still exist today.

Asbestos becomes dangerous when disturbed and toxic fibres enter the air, for example during renovations or if the building is damaged. But Mesothelioma symptoms often do not appear until decades later – making it difficult to treat, and track down who is responsible.

However, Oakwood Solicitors Ltd’s team of experienced industrial disease experts can assist, even if you are unsure where you may have been exposed to asbestos, or if your place of work no longer exists.

Mesothelioma Hotspots UK

The HSE data revealed the top hotspots where there were the most Mesothelioma deaths between 1981 and 2022:

Plymouth
North Tyneside
Medway
Portsmouth
South Tyneside
Southampton
Barrow-in-Furness
West Dunbartonshire
Hartlepool
Gosport

Employers have a duty to ensure workers are kept safe, under several laws and regulations, including the following:

Employer Liability – what is the law?

As well as common law duty to ensure a safe place of work and a safe system of work, your employer will have a number of duties set down by statute.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Employers have a duty so far as is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety and welfare of their employees.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Duty to undertake a reasonable risk assessment (Reg. 3)
Requirement to undertake a health surveillance (Reg. 6)

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

Ensure that suitable personal equipment is provided (Reg. 4)
Ensure an assessment of any personal protective equipment is undertaken to determine whether it is suitable.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002

Required to assess health risk where work is liable to expose employees to substances hazardous to health (Reg. 6)
Ensure exposure to substances hazardous to health is either prevented or where not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled (Reg. 7)
Ensure any employee exposed to substances hazardous to health are monitored and under suitable health surveillance (Reg. 11)

Symptoms of asbestos exposure

According to the NHS, symptoms of asbestos exposure include the following:

Shortness of breath
Persistent cough
Wheezing
Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
Pain in your chest or shoulder
In more advanced cases, clubbed (swollen) fingertips

However, it can take 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos before symptoms appear, and sometimes there are no symptoms.

How to make a claim

If you have read the above and feel that you may be suffering from any of the symptoms whilst exposed to substances at work, call Oakwood Solicitors to speak to a member of our dedicated Industrial Disease team.