The legacy of asbestos does not only affect the workers who were directly working with asbestos materials but it reaches as far as their homes and local communities.

There are an increasing number of cases involving secondary exposure whereby women and children have also been diagnosed with asbestos related diseases. This is as a result of coming into contact with asbestos fibres in their homes.

The industries using asbestos materials were largely made up of men but as a result of a lack of washing/changing facilities on site, those workers would travel home at night with overalls covered in asbestos fibres.

Once home, their wives or daughters would often shake the overalls to get rid of the excess dust prior to washing them. This would, however, cause the asbestos fibres to become airborne and inhaled once again, this time by those within the home.

Secondary exposure can also affect those who lived in close proximity to asbestos mines or asbestos factories who manufactured asbestos materials. 

Get in touch with our Asbestos claims team

Speak to one of our 25 specialist team based across Scotland, in offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Thurso and Lerwick, for a free initial consultation. Let us know details of your disease and secondary exposure

• Call us on 0800 904 7777
• Email us pi@harpermacleod.co.uk
• Text claim to 80160 and someone will call you back
• Fill out a claims form below
• Submit an enquiry via contact us page
• Book an appointment