To many people, asbestos diseases and court cases are mysterious
things that are vaguely talked about and poorly understood.
However, Councils and their risk managers should be aware of
potential problems caused by asbestos and take steps to lessen
them.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring product with many wonderful
features, such as fire resistance and great insulation properties.
However, there is one small problem: it is deadly.
Asbestos fibres can enter the lungs and lie dormant for decades
before a process not fully understood by the medical profession
manifests itself in either a malignant or a benign asbestos
disease.
Mesothelioma is a malignant disease which results in death
within two years (often a lot earlier) after diagnosis. While the
benign asbestos diseases are less unpleasant, they can still be
very disabling for the person affected, and therefore expensive for
Council and its insurers.
