Nano fibres were injected into the pleural cavity of lab mice. Fibre length was a key factor in determining the strength of inflammatory reaction. Given the short time-scale, the full biological significance of this length dependence was not determined. However, the same pattern of length dependence was found for different fibre compositions, including long vs short asbestos fibres. The researchers provide a consistent explanation, which, unlike more orthodox explanations, gives rise to the possibility that there is a lower bound to the risk of mesothelioma. It is highly unlikely that this model will be universally welcomed; but offers an opportunity for defence. Evidence from:  A Schinwald et al. Toxicol. Sci. (2012) Vol.128 (2) p 461-470 The Threshold Length for Fiber-Induced Acute Pleural Inflammation: Shedding Light on the Early Events in Asbestos-Induced Mesothelioma The research, and its potential for safety specifications and for defence of mesothelioma claims will be discussed

Two years since the consultation closed, the Government has announced new measures to ensure that more people are compensated for occupational mesothelioma. Essentially the problem is that the latency of this disease is so long that records of insurances are often lost by the time the victim realises they could make a claim and the employer long since gone out of business.  As a result, those with potentially good claims for compensation are denied access to justice. The proposed solution is an Employers’  Liability Insurance Bureau (ELIB), providing a mechanism for funding good claims where the insurance policy cannot be traced. Funding would be generated by imposing a levy on current EL insurers. Evidence from: DWP (2012) ISBN 978-1-78153-071-9 Accessing compensation – Supporting people who need to trace Employers’ Liability Insurance: Government response to consultation – July 2012 The DWP report makes no attempt to quantify the number of ca

Alex Hindson, Head of Group Risk, Amlin plc, has confirmed that Amlin will take up the Radar service from 1st September 2012. Dr Andrew Auty, Director of Re: Liability (Oxford) Ltd describes the Radar service as an essential complement to all systems of liability risk management. The Radar service informs insurance decision-makers about emerging liability risks. Changes in science, technology and law are assessed for their probable effect on liability exposure. Priority is given to any change which is likely to be larger than that predicted by experience trends or,  to lead to a completely new exposure. The aim is to provide quantitative information with which to evaluate timing, size and uncertainty of change and to provide a narrative which will aid the formation of good judgment.  Radar also supplies tactical information on well known issues e.g. vibration white finger, substantial contribution, contamination etc. This leads to possible new defences or better loss control options fo

There is uncertainty surrounding the long term health effects of added phosphates in foods and beverages; though they have been used in processed foods for a very long time. The intended uses are many, varied and highly prevalent. These are the right conditions to register as an emerging liability risk; exposure uncertainty may be much larger than the estimated risk itself. Evidence from: E Ritz et al. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2012; 109(4): 49-55 Phosphate Additives in Food—a Health Risk While generally regarded as safe, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests room for doubt about this designation. There is a coherent mechanism, via the effect of phosphates on calcium, that would predict problems with existing heart disease and even causation. Risks so far have been measured as small. Liability risk managers have to assess the potential product liability exposure, keeping in mind that some of the predicted outcomes are indivisible. There are also potential D&O risks associated w