Father dies from asbestos exposure

Fifty years ago asbestos was commonly used by construction companies in Essex and across England, and the damaging effects of exposure to that material are still being seen today. Two building companies have paid out over £120,000 to the family of a builder who died in April 2013, at the age of 84, after developing an asbestos-related cancer. The family’s solicitor warned that anyone who develops symptoms after working around asbestos should seek immediate health advice.

The man was working for Hawksley Construction and Wilcon Construction during the 1950s and 1960s when he was exposed to asbestos dust. Hundred of houses being built on the Penhill housing estate by Hawksley Construction used prefabricated walls containing the material, while the Wilcon Construction project at the semiconductor factory at the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate used sheets of asbestos for the roof and walls. At both sites, the materials were being cut on location, releasing asbestos dust and particles into the air.

The man’s family was represented by a solicitor with extensive experience handling industrial disease cases. She revealed that, during his work on the construction sites, the builder was never given any personal protective equipment and was not told of the health risks involved in working with asbestos. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2011 and died two years later.

Employers have a duty of care to ensure that their staff are informed of potential hazards in the work place. Anyone who suffers an injury as a result of an unsafe work environment may have grounds to seek compensation. A solicitor familiar with claims involving accidents at work may be able to offer a client legal advice regarding work accident compensation. Some factors that may be taken into consideration when considering compensation are medical bills and loss of income.