An elderly man who worked with asbestos for ten years in various jobs died from industrial disease, a coroner has ruled.
David Thomas, aged 74 from Burton, died in February after years of being exposed to asbestos in the 1960s.
The inquest found that although he had worked for a number of different firms during his lifetime, including Drakelow Power Station. However, it was whilst working for four firms in particular that he was exposed to the asbestos.
Dr Peter Acland, a pathologist who conducted the post-mortem into Mr Thomas’ death, concluded that it was difficult to detect if asbestos was present in the body. However, he said that mesothelioma develops almost always develops as a result of past asbestos exposure.
Coroner Andrew Haigh said: “Mr Thomas was a hardworking man with numerous jobs.
“In his final years he developed lung and breathing problems. I suspect this was caused by mesothelioma but it has not been confirmed. This made it necessary for there to be a post-mortem and microscopic examination.
“I am well satisfied that this death was a result of mesothelioma, which was a result of asbestos.”
Sadly, during the 1960s and 70s, many people worked with asbestos and were not told of the dangers this brought. Mr Thomas worked in a power station and in industries such as this workers were routinely exposed to asbestos dust with no protection or precautions taken.
At Russell Worth solicitors, we specialise in settling claims for industrial disease and our experienced solicitors have helped many victims to recover significant compensation for the effects of their asbestos exposure.
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