Asbestos - the silent epidemic 

Amicus, Britain's biggest private sector union is receiving a growing number of calls in response to the union stepping up its campaign to compensate asbestos claims in the East Midlands.
 
The union will hold a major event tomorrow in the East Midlands to raise awareness of the problems associated with asbestos exposure, and to step up its campaign to compensate asbestos claims and fight back against the claims farmers.
 
The event is to be held on Saturday 5 November, The Spot, 73 Sacheverel Street Derby, DE1 2JR. The seminar will examine the problems associated with asbestos and the impact it has on peoples lives and examines the future threat of this deadly substance. It is forecast that there will be 2,000 deaths a year from now until 2015.
 
The seminar is supported by Amicus, Trust (Trade Union Safety Team), Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team, Thompson's Solicitors and Rowley Ashworth Solicitors. The seminar will also be addressed by specialist medical consultants and the Coroners Office on the physical effects of asbestos related diseases.
 
Amicus is receiving hundreds of calls a week in response to the union stepping up its campaign to compensate asbestos claims. The union has created a database which is a structured permanent register detailing cases of asbestos exposure. The database will be used to ensure that union members suffering from asbestos related diseases have a better chance of winning their legal case than other claimants do. The asbestos register helps claimants because it records where asbestos exposure takes place and helps track defendants and their insurers.
 
Amicus Regional Secretary, Nev Jackson, said: "Amicus is receiving hundreds of calls a week in response to the union stepping up its campaign to compensate asbestos claims. Asbestos is not yesterdays problem it is a silent epidemic affecting a generation of workers in the East Midlands.
 
"Today's seminar is the opportunity to step up the union's asbestos campaign in the East Midlands and demonstrate the value of being a member of a trade union rather than falling foul of the claims farmers."
 
David Fisher, Rowley Ashworth Solicitors said: "Mesothelioma deaths have increased from 153 in 1968 to 1874 in 2003. It is estimated that the total number of all types of asbestos related diseases will reach 10,000 per anum by 2011. Insurers have mounted a large number of challenges to avoid paying damages. This event will highlight current case law and the work that unions and solicitors are doing to help those affected."