South African Gold Miners’ Silicosis: Leigh Day Acts Alpheos Blom lives in a tin shack in Welkom, close to the OF “RATES SILICOSIS AND TB President Steyn mine, formerly ARE VERY HIGH part of Anglo American South AMONG BLACK Africa (AASA). He worked at GOLD MINERS, WHO the mine for seventeen years, UNDERTOOK THE but can no longer do so due to DUSTIEST JOBS. his ill health. At the age of 37 Mr Blom contracted silicosis, a respiratory disease caused by excessive dust exposure that increases the risk of contracting TB, which is endemic in South Africa. Rates of silicosis and TB are very high among black gold miners, who undertook the dustiest jobs. Leigh Day represents around 4,000 former gold miners against AASA Ltd, which is now wholly owned by London- based Anglo American plc. claims, including Mr Blom’s, which Leigh Day litigated in South Africa together with the Johannesburg been referred to the UK Court of Legal Resources Centre, were settled in Appeal. Leigh Day is also working with September 2013. Approximately 2,300 South African lawyers on numerous claims issued in the UK High Court in silicosis claims against AASA and Anglo 2011 are subject to an AASA challenge Gold Ashanti in the South African against jurisdiction, which was upheld courts. in July 2013. The jurisdiction issue has New Hips That Failed due to the damage caused by the ASRs. In 2007, Debbie B. had an ASR implanted in each hip. After seven complex operations, now Aged 42, a netball reliant on crutches, Debbie will probably enthusiast, gardener, be wheelchair bound by 60. teaching assistant, wife and mother of two, she expected Day’s ASR team represents over the operation improve 500 clients affected by what has been called the biggest disaster in her life. orthopaedic history. Partner Michelle Victor said live with constant pain “Many But it didn’t. The pain returned and soon and will need further surgery and some she was completely immobile. Both her face being wheelchair-bound early in life ASR components had catastrophically and reliant on others for care. Our failed, destroying tissue and muscle. dedicated team has the scientific and Three years on, she had more surgery legal expertise to obtain appropriate on both hips, and then further operations
South African Gold Miners’ Silicosis: Leigh Day Acts Alpheos Blom lives in a tin shack in Welkom, close to the President Steyn mine, formerly part of Anglo American South Africa (AASA). He worked at the mine for seventeen years, but can no longer do so due to his ill health. At the age of 37 Mr Blom contracted silicosis, a respiratory disease caused by excessive dust exposure that increases the risk of contracting TB, which is endemic in South Africa. Rates of silicosis and TB are very high among black gold miners, who undertook the dustiest jobs. Leigh Day represents around 4,000 former gold miners against AASA Ltd, which is now wholly owned by London- based Anglo American plc. claims, including Mr Blom’s, which Leigh Day litigated in South Africa together with the Johannesburg Legal Resources Centre, were settled in September 2013. Approximately 2,300 claims issued in the UK High Court in 2011 are subject to an AASA challenge against jurisdiction, which was upheld in July 2013. The jurisdiction issue has “RATES OF SILICOSIS AND TB ARE VERY HIGH AMONG BLACK GOLD MINERS, WHO UNDERTOOK THE DUSTIEST JOBS. been referred to the UK Court of Appeal. Leigh Day is also working with South African lawyers on numerous silicosis claims against AASA and Anglo Gold Ashanti in the South African courts. New Hips That Failed In 2007, Debbie B. had an ASR implanted in each hip. Aged 42, a netball enthusiast, gardener, teaching assistant, wife and mother of two, she expected the operation improve her life. But it didn’t. The pain returned and soon she was completely immobile. Both her ASR components had catastrophically failed, destroying tissue and muscle. Three years on, she had more surgery on both hips, and then further operations due to the damage caused by the ASRs. After seven complex operations, now reliant on crutches, Debbie will probably be wheelchair bound by 60. Day’s ASR team represents over 500 clients affected by what has been called the biggest disaster in orthopaedic history. Partner Michelle Victor said “Many live with constant pain and will need further surgery and some face being wheelchair-bound early in life and reliant on others for care. Our dedicated team has the scientific and legal expertise to obtain appropriate
AnnualReview_VisuallyImpaired_Arial.docx