Monday, 22 August 2011

'Employers negligent' alleges asbestos victim

Asbestos Claims

A FORMER labourer who is suffering from an asbestos related illness has launched a legal battle for compensation of up to £100,000, after branding his employers as negligent.

Bruce Cooper (68) suffers from pleural thickening and folded lung and fears that he might develop cancer.

Now Mr Cooper, of Morley Street, is claiming damages from his former employers Hanson Support Services, formerly Edward Hanson Ltd.

He worked for the company as a labourer in the 1960s and 1970s on wrecking and salvage work at Scunthorpe Steelworks, according to a High Court writ.

He was exposed to pipework lagged with asbestos, as well as to asbestos when furnaces were wrecked, he says.

Sometimes he worked close to laggers mixing up dry asbestos fibres with water and was also exposed to asbestos from vibration which disturbed brittle insulation on pipework, it is alleged.

He sometimes used a compressed airline to blow asbestos dust out of electric turbines and asbestos debris and dust littered the workplace, the writ claims. His condition is rapidly declining and his prognosis is for increased breathlessness and possible dependence on others for help with day to day activities. He is also at risk of developing asbestosis or cancer, he says.

Mr Cooper says the company exposed him to asbestos knowing it was potentially harmful; failed to provide him with protective equipment; allowed asbestos dust to be swept up without damping; and failed to provide him with a safe workplace.

source: goolecourier.co.uk

No comments:

Post a Comment