THE COURT OF CATANIA HAS ORDERED THAT INAIL RECOGNIZES THE OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS RESULTING FROM EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS AND HAS ORDERED INPS TO ADJUST THE PENSION OF A FORMER WORKER OF A FORMER WORKER OF THE PETROCHEMICAL CENTER OF PRIOLO GARGALLO
The labor judge of the Court of Catania forced INAIL to recognize the occupational disease caused by exposure to asbestos and ordered INPS to adjust the pension of an 81-year-old worker from the province of Enna.
Orazio Lombardo, suffering from pulmonary fibrosis undergoing treatment, had worked in the petrochemical complex of Priolo Gargallo, in the province of Syracuse, where he had been exposed to asbestos fibers and dust for seventeen years. THE’National Asbestos Observatorywith its president and lawyer Ezio Bonannilegally assisted the worker.
«After nine years Lombardo has finally obtained justice – declares the lawyer. Ezio Bonanni – and this sentence represents yet another confirmation of the epidemiological risk of workers in the petrochemical sector and, in this specific case, that of Priolo Gargallo-Siracusa”.
The environmental CTU confirms the worker’s exposure to asbestos
The ISAB Refinery, acronym of the original name at the time of the foundation of Industria Siciliana Asfalti e Bitumi, of Priolo Gargallo used theasbestosboth in crumbly and compact form in notable quantities. The censuses started in 1997 have highlighted the use of fibrous mineral in various production departments and plants, in lines and equipment. As well as in structures and environments such as asbestos roofs and canopies, as well as in tanks and pipe coverings.
The Observatory explained that an environmental Technical Consultancy Office (CTU), admitted by the Court, confirmed the worker’s significant exposure to asbestos fibres. This exposure occurred both directly, through the use of asbestos gloves, and indirectly, due to environmental contamination.
Hundreds of workers fell ill with asbestos-related diseases in petrochemical centers
In 2016, the man had experienced breathing difficulties and, after medical tests, he was diagnosed with an asbestos-related pathology. Consequently, he had submitted an application to INAIL for the recognition of the occupational disease and to INPS for the adjustment of his pension. Both requests were initially rejected, forcing him to appeal to the Employment Tribunal.
The Court of Catania condemned INAIL to compensate the worker with approximately 15 thousand euros for biological damage. He then forced INPS to increase his pension by 300-400 euros per month, including the payment of arrears.
«There are hundreds of workers who have fallen ill with asbestos-related diseases and many have died from asbestosis, lung cancer, mesotheliomas, asbestos-related colon blood cancer – concludes Bonanni -. Suffice it to say that in the VII ReNaM report 229 cases of mesothelioma were recorded among petrochemical workers, data which is destined to increase due to the long latency of asbestos-related diseases”.