21 March 2018
Rise in mechanics making claims for asbestos-related illnesses 2018
An increasing number of former mechanics are among the growing toll of Victorians seeking help for asbestos-related illnesses.
Law firm Slater and Gordon said there had been a distinct spike in the number of the car repairers who were exposed to asbestos decades ago.
Senior asbestos lawyer Tracy Madden said that over the past two years, there had been a staggering 200 per cent increase in mechanics seeking legal support.
“Because asbestos-related illnesses tend not to show for decades, we are only now starting to see and understand the real impact,” Ms Madden said.
“As a result, there is also a danger for people who work in their cars at home who are pulling these parts out of the car”
“It really doesn’t take a lot of exposure to asbestos for someone to potentially develop a life-threatening disease.”
Asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, pleural disease, asbestosis and lung cancer, can develop up to four decades after the initial exposure.
Typically, mechanics were exposed to asbestos when replacing brake pads and clutches and using compressed air to remove dust.
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