Secondary Exposure
Its not just those who have worked with asbestos who are at risk of developing an asbestos illness but also those who have been exposed to asbestos brought home from work on the clothes of their loved ones (known as secondary exposure).
Wives who washed their husband’s dusty overalls and children who simply greeted their father as they came home from work are all to often diagnosed with mesothelioma as this illness can be caused by the briefest of exposure.
Often the work clothes had to be shaken before being washed, as they were so dusty. They may have even been simply left in the washing basket, silently contaminating the home.
It is estimated that some 15% of mesothelioma suffers have contracted the illness through secondary exposure
As the wife or child did not work for the company where the asbestos came from then a claim must be made against their public liability insurer.
This is where a major problem often lies as public liability insurance is not nor has it ever been compulsory.
In addition to this if any such insurance policies are in place quite often the wording of the policy means that they are only liable if the illness ‘occurs’ within the period of the policy. As the illness does not ‘occur’ until many years after the exposure then quiet often the company has long since ceased trading and will not have any insurance at all.