Lung cancer compensation recovered for wife of a labourer at Kingsnorth power station

09/08/2011

This case study demonstrates the expertise of our Chemical Poisoning & Asbestos team who recently negotiated a full value settlement for the wife of a former power station worker who developed lung cancer after exposure to asbestos working at Kingsnorth power station.

Mr M worked at Kingsnorth power station for International Combustion Limited (now Rolls-Royce Industrial Power (India) Limited) from 1969 – 1973. He worked in a gang carrying out orders to remove and dispose of building debris which included asbestos. Mr M had been informed that trade unions had refused to allow their on site members to carry out such work because of the presence of asbestos and therefore his employers had been bought in to do this work.

His exposure to asbestos happened mainly while cleaning away debris including asbestos being used by laggers. The laggers routinely tipped sacks of asbestos powder into drums to mix up a paste for lagging. Mr M was often very close to the laggers while this was being carried out which generated clouds of asbestos dust. For a full working day for nearly two whole years, Mr H was sweeping and shovelling debris containing asbestos before driving a dumper truck with that debris in it to the dumping site, all the while breathing in dust from the debris. This work was carried out inside the power station, often in confined spaces. Thereafter paper masks were supplied for about a year before more substantial masks were made available. 

Mr M sadly died before the claim was settled. An inquest into his death was held with a verdict of an 'Industrial death' being recorded.  Thereafter we recovered full damages for his surviving wife.

Read more about our experience in cases involving lung cancer following exposure to asbestos.

Alan Care specialises in asbestos and other toxic substance poisoning cases. If you would like to ask him a question about a potential case involving exposure to a toxic substance or you have a general query about a personal injury contact him on 01892 701219 in confidence.