Widow’s cash claim over ex-yard man’s cancer death
A WIDOW whose husband died of cancer after working in Barrow shipyard and the railways is seeking compensation.
Evelyn Holmes’ husband Leonard died in November 2006 from the asbestos-related condition mesothelioma.
The aggressive and incurable cancer, the only known cause of which is exposure to asbestos, has killed hundreds of former shipyard workers, claiming more lives per head in Barrow than anywhere else in the UK. Mr Holmes, who lived in Barrow town centre, was exposed to the deadly asbestos fibres throughout his working life.
Between 1947 and 1949 he worked for the British Railways Board, cleaning locomotives in its Barrow depot.
The pipework and firebox which Mr Holmes had to clean were lagged with asbestos insulation, which, when disturbed, created the asbestos dust to which he was exposed.
From 1975 to 1993 Mr Holmes was employed as a labourer by Vickers-Armstrong in the Barrow shipyard.
During this time he worked mainly with plumbers on pipework throughout the ships.
There was asbestos lagging on pipes and old lagging that had fallen to the floor which created asbestos dust when disturbed, to which Mr Holmes was also exposed.
He was never given any warning of the danger of working with asbestos and never provided with any protective clothing or equipment.
Lucy Proctor, a solicitor at personal injury firm Irwin Mitchell, who is representing Mrs Holmes, said: “Mesothelioma is a devastating form of cancer which affects the lining of the lung.
“It is typically associated with occupational exposure to asbestos dust in industry and affects over 1,800 people per year in the UK alone. Mr Holmes was exposed to asbestos even though it was known that it could cause injury and we are seeking justice for his family.
“Mr Holmes suffered substantial exposure to asbestos dust, but mesothelioma can develop as a result of slight exposure and it is not always associated with industry.
“It is important that anyone diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition who may have been exposed through their work seeks legal advice.”
Source: http://www.nwemail.co.uk