Many of our UK prisons may be housing dangerous asbestos within them, which could result in prison employees/officers and prisoners being exposed to asbestos as and when the substance is disturbed.
A survey in 2003 found asbestos present in all UK prisons and, as a result of this survey, high-risk asbestos was removed from 31 prisons in 2005. However, it is understood that lower-risk asbestos remains present in many of our prison buildings.
Any prisons which were built more than a couple of decades ago, may have been constructed using asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos does not cause any real harm until it is disturbed in some way and its fibres are released into the environment. However, older prisons which are undergoing maintenance and renovation work could create a risk of asbestos exposure to prisoners and prison officers alike, if asbestos has been used for insulating the walls, roofs and pipes within the prison. This is because asbestos dust may be released into the air during these renovation works.
As prisons are not always maintained regularly, deterioration and wear in the general state of the prison buildings over time could increase the risk of asbestos exposure. Prisoners are also often employed within prisons to carry out maintenance work and this, in itself, could put them at risk of asbestos exposure if they aren’t provided with the appropriate training and protective equipment.
Those exposed to asbestos could be at risk of developing life-threatening illnesses, such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. These conditions can significantly impact quality of life and can be terminal. Around 55% of those diagnosed with mesothelioma will sadly die within one year of their diagnosis.
If you think you have been exposed to asbestos and have developed symptoms as a result call our industrial disease specialists on 0161 696 6235 or complete our online enquiry form.
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