October 22nd, 2009
A woman has been awarded compensation of £300,000 after her husband died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.
Michael Streets left school in 1963 and got a job as an apprentice oil fitter at Fawley Refinery, the Southern Daily Echo reports.
Although he left the company in 1975, Mr Streets said he recalled there being no safety measures in place to protect employees against the danger of asbestos. In fact, he said in a statement before he died that workers used to have ’snowball’ fights with the fibres and that the air was thick with deadly dust.
Mr Streets contracted mesothelioma and died in December 2007. His widow Francis took legal action against the Esso Petroleum Company and it recently admitted liability.
She is to be awarded £300,000 in compensation for her loss.
Asbestos-related cancers typically affect five times as many men as women because they are often the result of working in industries that used the materials in the 1960s, Cancer Research UK attests.
Tags: 1960s, Apprentice, Asbestos Cancer, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Cancer Mesothelioma, Cancer Research Uk, Cancers, Deadly Dust, Fibres, Fitter, Job, Many Men, Petroleum Company, Refinery, Safety Measures, Snowball Fights, Southern Daily Echo, Woman
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September 3rd, 2009
A woman has won a long legal battle against the company where her husband contracted the deadly asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.
Frederick Hughes of Ashton-under-Lyne worked at engineering firm Vernon & Roberts during the 1960s, where he inhaled asbestos as he dismantled buildings and equipment, the Manchester Evening News attests.
He died in 2001 and his widow Dorothy decided to pursue a compensation claim against the company. Although a judge ruled in her favour four years ago, she then had to sue Vernon & Roberts’ directors because its insurers had ceased trading and could not meet the payout.
This week, she was finally successful and has been awarded £60,000 in compensation from the personal accounts of the company’s former directors.
"People should have accepted their responsibilities sooner. I am relieved now that it is over," commented Ms Hughes.
According to a paper published by the Centre for the Study of Environmental Cancer, Britain has one of the highest incidences of mesothelioma, with 30 per million per year.
Tags: 1960s, Amp, Asbestos Cancer, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Ashton Under Lyne, Cancer Compensation, Cancer Mesothelioma, Compensation Case, Compensation Claim, Engineering Firm, Favour, Incidences, Manchester Evening News, Ms Hughes, Personal Accounts, Woman
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February 6th, 2009
A man whose wife died from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos as a factory worker in the 1960s is appealing for her fellow workers to come forward in order to assist him in his claim fro compensation.
Diane Pritchard, 58, worked at the former Jackson Electric factory in Bristol from 1967 to 1969.
It is here that the family believes she was exposed to the deadly building material from testing heaters and assembling cookers.
Derrick Pritchard launched a claim for compensation after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2005 and died just over two years later.
Exposure to asbestos has been recognised as a health hazard since the early 1900s, although many workers were exposed to the substance decades after this.
If a person can prove they were exposed to asbestos as a result of negligence, they may be able to make a claim for compensation as a result.
Tags: 1960s, Asbestos, Bristol, Building Material, Decades, Derrick, Early 1900s, Electric Factory, Factory Worker, Fellow Workers, Former Jackson, Health Hazard, Material Testing, Mesothelioma, Negligence, Pritchard, Terminal Cancer, Wife Exposed
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January 23rd, 2009
A woman whose husband died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma has begun a campaign for compensation.
Roger Cass, 77, died in 2006 after having worked as an architect in the housing division for London county council, the London Informer reports.
It is believed that he was exposed to asbestos dust between 1955 and 1986.
Now, Irene Cass, 80, is suing the council for failing to protect her late husband from exposure.
She commented: "After the diagnosis of mesothelioma, Roger’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He also became extremely frustrated at the acceleration of his illness and his inability to do things."
Ms Cass is now seeking witnesses to assist her with her legal action against the council.
Many workers in the UK were exposed to asbestos in the 1950s and 1960s, despite the risks of the material having been known since the early 20th century.
If a person can prove they were exposed to asbestos as a result of negligence, they may be able to make a claim for compensation as a result.
Tags: 1950s, 1960s, 20th Century, Acceleration, Architect, Asbestos Cancer, Asbestos Dust, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Cancer Mesothelioma, Cass, Compensation Claim, Diagnosis, Exposed, Irene, London County Council, Negligence, Woman
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January 9th, 2009
A man who was in the Royal Engineers during the 1950s and 1960s is taking his fight against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to the high court amid claims that he was exposed to dangerous levels of radiation.
George Harrison, now 73, was posted on Christmas Island, where he witnessed the testing of two hydrogen bombs and one atomic bomb, the Lancashire Evening Post reports.
However, he claims that this resulted in the development of a skin complaint almost a decade ago due to radiation and maintains that the MoD had not given the appropriate protection to its servicemen, even though it knew the risks.
"There was no training. They said they were testing some bombs and that’s all we were told," Mr Harrison commented.
The MoD is currently refusing to admit liability for Mr Harrison’s illness and that there is any link between the weapons testing and radiation illnesses.
The MoD has the same obligations as any other employer to make sure that their employees have a safe environment to work in.
This includes proper training for all employees in equipment usage and general job requirements, suitable supervision and safe equipment.
Anyone who feels they have not been given this safe environment may be eligible for compensation.
Tags: 1950s, 1960s, Atomic Bomb, Christmas, Christmas Island, Dangerous Levels, Decade, Environment, George Harrison, Hydrogen Bombs, Illnesses, Lancashire Evening Post, Ministry Of Defence, Mr Harrison, Radiation, Royal Engineers, Serviceman, Skin Complaint, Supervision, Weapons
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