More people died due to exposure to asbestos than were killed fighting in Afghanistan, government records have revealed. The toxic mineral, present in military homes, helicopters, ships, submarines and tanks, is causing, on average, 89 cases of mesothelioma, a deadly cancer.
The British Occupational Hygiene Society, a group which campaigns for improved workplace safety, believes that the veteran community could be 10 times as likely to develop a disease related to asbestos exposure as the general public. Liz Darlison, chief executive of the charity Mesothelioma UK, said: “We should hang our heads in shame – exposing our boys and girls to asbestos is killing them way faster than the Taliban ever could. Our national network of mesothelioma nurses see a disproportionate number of military veterans.
“It isn’t something that’s talked about – but it should be. It’s a national disgrace. Even more of a disgrace is how they are treated by the military once their disease is diagnosed.”
A military mesothelioma compensation scheme, established nine years ago, has paid out a total of £112.5 million to 803 terminally ill veterans according to MOD figures.
A similar number have died from conditions related to asbestos exposure, according to annual Health and Safety Executive figures.
At that rate, over the 20-year period that the British Army was deployed in Afghanistan, 3,560 asbestos-related deaths are estimated to have occurred among veterans.
In comparison, 405 people lost their lives fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The MOD has taken steps in the past year to fix the standard of military housing, which is believed to be one of the main methods of exposure to the substance.
As he announced a deal to bring back 36,000 military homes into public ownership, Defence Secretary John Healey said: “For too long, military families have endured substandard housing without the basic consumer rights that any of us should expect in our homes.
“I’m determined to deliver the decent, affordable housing that our forces families have every right to expect.”
The MOD was protected by Crown immunity from paying compensation to veterans who developed mesothelioma until 2016. Legislation was passed in 2014 to remove the protection.
Former service personnel diagnosed with mesothelioma are able to claim a weekly or monthly pension or opt for a one-off lump sum of £140,000.
Those impacted by asbestos-related diseases can apply for remuneration under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
Ms Darlison believes that the MOD must still do more to ensure those impacted are given adequate compensation, with claims of £100,000 common amongst civilian employees who bring similar claims.
She added: “On top of that, civilian settlements often include provisions that cover for private, often novel or cutting-edge treatments. Military settlements don’t include that provision, which is grossly unfair.
“Civilian families can make compensation claims after a loved one has died while, under the War Pension Scheme, families of veterans cannot.”
Emma Lewell, Labour MP for South Shields, whose grandfather died from mesothelioma, told the Daily Mail: “It can’t be right that those who have served get lesser compensation than civilians. This needs to be looked at urgently.”
The MOD said compensation payments to veterans affected by mesothelioma cannot be compared with civilian claims as the standard of proof of exposure required is lower.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the Express: “We take the health and safety of our Service Personnel and defence employees extremely seriously.
“We have robust procedures around managing asbestos that comply with health and safety regulations. This includes removing asbestos containing materials across the Defence estate where possible, and we have separately reduced the number of affected military equipment parts by more than 90% since 2006.
“We run compensation schemes which provide no-fault compensation to Service Personnel and veterans for injuries, illness and death caused by service.”