Workplace Illness Lawyers At Irwin Mitchell Welcome Efforts But Renew Call For More To Be Done

Specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are calling for more to be done after just 11 Edinburgh City Council public buildings had asbestos removed last year.

The legal experts, who support clients affected by exposure to asbestos, previously published data from 20 UK councils confirming the number of public buildings containing the hazardous substance,  This was obtained by the law firm through the Freedom of Information Act, for the financial years 2017/18 to 2021/22, and was released last April after the Government rejected a 40-year deadline recommended by MPs and the Work and Pensions Select Committee for the removal of asbestos from the estimated 300,000 public and commercial buildings which still contain it.

At the time, it was found that this included 235 local authority buildings in Edinburgh.

Schools make up large percentage of asbestos removals

Now, one year on, updated information requested by Irwin Mitchell reveals that just 11 Edinburgh City Council buildings had asbestos removed in the last financial year.  These were Wester Hailes Education Centre, Roseberry Memorial Hall, Clovenstone Primary School, Currie High School, Balgreen Nursery School, Nether Currie Primary School, Craigmillar Children’s Centre, Hermitage Park Primary School, Bankhead Avenue Roads Depot, Murrayburn Road Depot, and St Cuthbert’s RC Primary School.

Expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have cautiously welcomed the development. However, they are calling for more to be done to further eradicate the dangerous material, which can lead to those exposed developing mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen, or chronic and progressive lung diseases such as asbestosis.

Kim Leslie leads the complex personal injury team at Irwin Mitchell in Scotland

Expert Opinion

“Our research last year highlighted how asbestos continues to pose a very real risk across the UK, not only to those working in industrial settings, but also in buildings used regularly by members of the public and public sector employees.

“Through our work, we’re sadly all too familiar with the devastating impact that asbestos can have. We remain deeply concerned that enough isn’t being done to eradicate the harmful substance from these buildings.

“Schools continue to be one of the main areas affected, and it’s incredibly worrying that children may be coming into contact with asbestos as they are particularly susceptible. Whilst we welcome the councils’ recent efforts, with a large percentage of last year’s removals involving schools, there are still far too many buildings containing the material which, once disturbed or requiring reparatory work, can become highly dangerous.

“We’re therefore renewing our call for more to be done to keep people safe.” Kim Leslie 

Data reveals cost of around £13,000

The data obtained by Irwin Mitchell also reveals that the cost of removing asbestos from the 11 aforementioned public buildings in Edinburgh totalled around £13,000.

Liz Darlison, CEO at Mesothelioma UK, said: “The ongoing presence of asbestos in UK public buildings is a huge concern; the number of education and health workers diagnosed with mesothelioma is unforgivable.  No one should be living with an avoidable occupational cancer in today’s UK.  The current approach to managing asbestos has to be updated; so many lives could be saved.”

Action Mesothelioma Day takes place on 5 July 2024.

Find out more about our expertise in handling asbestos-related disease cases at the dedicated section on our website. Alternatively, to speak to an expert, contact us or call 0808 271 9815.