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Asbestos warning for automotive enthusiasts or workers in the industry
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Many people are now aware of the great risks posed by working with Asbestos, a practice which has been halted for some decades now owing to the knowledge that Asbestos on the lungs can lead to lung diseases such as cancer or mesothelioma and asbestosis.
A warning issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration in the US in 2006 has led to widespread knowledge about how this material has been used in the car industry before the 1980s.
Before its dangers were known, asbestos was relied upon as a hardwearing and inexpensive material for use in brake pads and other components and clutches. The material is most dangerous when the lining is torn or broken down and car enthusiasts and workers in the industry alike have been warned of the dangers of undertaking repairs on older vehicles.
Perhaps the most obvious area to be aware of is brake dust that falls out of the brake drum when checking for wear. Great care must be taken not to inhale the dust which easily rises into the air given its fine nature. Cleaning with an air compressor is also strongly advised against.
The vintage car website www.thevintagecar.co.uk provides some advice for those working with older vehicles, and further information about asbestos and its risks can be found on the Health and Safety Executive's website (www.hse.gov.uk).
Simpson Millar has a specialist department devoted to assisting personal injury claims arising from asbestos and further information regarding claiming asbestos compensation can be found here.
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Emma Costin
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02/03/2009
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