The tragic story of asbestos is most often told through the lens of the workers who handled it directly. The wharfies, builders, mechanics, and factory workers who breathed in the dust every day. But the insidious nature of asbestos fibres means they did not stay confined to the worksite. They were carried home on skin, hair, and clothing, leading to devastating consequences for entire families.
This is known as secondary, or domestic, asbestos exposure. Victims of this type of exposure have the very same rights to compensation as those who worked directly with the material. Proving the link can be more challenging, but it is a challenge that specialist lawyers are experienced in overcoming.
Let’s explore some common scenarios of secondary exposure.
The Family Home: Exposure from Contaminated Clothing
This is the most frequent and heartbreaking form of domestic exposure. For decades, workers would come home covered in a fine layer of grey or white dust.
- A wife shaking out her husband’s dusty work overalls before putting them in the wash could release a concentrated cloud of asbestos fibres, inhaling a dangerous dose in a single act.
- Children greeting their father with a hug when he walked through the door could breathe in the fibres clinging to his work clothes and hair.
- The dust could contaminate the family car, the laundry area, and other parts of the home, leading to ongoing, low-level exposure for the whole family.
The Neighbourhood: Environmental Exposure
You did not have to have an asbestos worker in your family to be exposed. Many people were exposed simply by living in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Living near an asbestos mine or a factory that manufactured asbestos products (like those operated by James Hardie) meant that dust and fibres were often carried on the wind, settling over entire neighbourhoods, contaminating backyards, homes, and school playgrounds.
- Even living near a major transport route where raw asbestos was frequently moved could lead to significant environmental exposure.
Building Your Case
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease but have no direct work history with the material, it is vital to think carefully about your past. Did a parent, spouse, or sibling work in a high-risk industry? Where did you live as a child and as an adult?
Building a secondary exposure case requires meticulous investigation. We work with you to create a detailed life history. We then investigate the work history of your family members and research the history of the neighbourhoods where you lived. We can use witness statements from family and former neighbours to build a compelling picture of how your exposure occurred.
You have a right to justice. If you suspect your illness is due to secondary exposure, contact us. We can help you uncover the truth and secure the compensation you deserve.