December 18th, 2006

Reports from sources in Hyogo Prefecture have revealed that the family of a man that died from lung cancer will receive benefits as the man’s survivors, even though the man did not originally qualify for any compensation because he had not inhaled enough asbestos to qualify.

A number of former colleagues of the man were questioned by officials, leading them to believe that he was highly likely to have been exposed to asbestos as a result of his work. The decision on survivor’s compensation was then made by the Itami Labor Standard Inspection Office in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture.

The man was diagnosed with the cancer in the mid-nineties and died from lung cancer in 1997. He was just fifty-six years of age when he died. Support groups state that the award of compensation in this case could help other victims’ families in the future.

As part of his job, the victim worked with water pipes. However, workers compensation could not be claimed because the statutes of limitations had expired, which is when his family applied for survivor’s benefits.