A retired electrician has won a huge compensation payout after being diagnosed with terminal cancer caused by being exposed to lethal asbestos at Sandringham House.
Harold Hart, 67, was exposed to the deadly dust while working at the Queen's residence in 1985 for electrical contractors G E Child and Son.
Grandfather-of-ten Harold used to have to walk through the underground walkways and tunnels under the house where asbestos debris was stored.
Harold also came into contact with asbestos in the former Dow Chemicals factory in Kings Lynn in 1984 and at the Elephant and Castle Cinema in London for Associated British Cinemas, now Cineworld South East Cinemas, between October 1963 and January 1964.
He successfully pursued legal action against Associated British Cinemas and G E Child and Sons Ltd and has received an undisclosed settlement to secure his financial future.
Father-of-three Harold yesterday said Sandringham House was a "fantastic, grand place to work", but no one warned him of the risk of asbestos.
He said: "It was absolutely devastating to find out that I was suffering from mesothelioma.
"I'm constantly breathless and in pain and I'm unable to do the things I loved, such as fishing, although on a good day I still manage to enjoy my woodturning hobby in my workshop.
"It has also affected my ability to play with my grandchildren, which is upsetting and frustrating.
"I hope my case highlights the dangers of this deadly dust and companies take precautions to protect their staff in future so that other families don't have to go through the same ordeal.
"I'm relieved a settlement has now been agreed and my family and I will be taken care of financially, particularly as I am now unable to work.
"Neither employer warned me about the dangers of asbestos nor was I given any protective clothing or a face mask.
"I recall coming into contact with asbestos while working as an electrician at Sandringham House for G E Child and Son.
"I used the basements and underground walkways and tunnels to access the areas in which I was required to work.
"These areas were dusty with little or no ventilation and there was a lot of crumbly asbestos debris on the floor.
"It was a fantastic, grand place to work but I was never told about the dangers of asbestos."
Harold, who lives with his partner of 20 years in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, first noticed his health deteriorating in 2009 when he rapidly lost weight and found it difficult to breathe.
He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in November 2009 after doctors found his right lung had collapsed.
Harold had to give up his most recent job working as a driver for Lynn Star Distributions and Logistics Ltd in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, and his illness prevents him from enjoying his favourite hobby fishing.
He is being given chemotherapy to help control the cancer, but there is no cure.
Now he and his family have received a "substantial" payout, with the help of asbestos specialists, which they say will give them security for the future.
Harold carried out electrical installation and maintenance work at Sandringham House for two days in 1985.
He used the basements and underground walkways and tunnels, which were very dusty with little or no ventilation, to access the area where he was required to work.
The asbestos debris was very crumbly and gave off dust as it was trodden under foot and Harrold was told that some of this asbestos had been dumped there after removal from other parts of the house.
Harrold added: "My job for G E Child & Son Limited also included working as an electrician at a large chemical production factory called Dow Chemicals, where I worked close to men who were required to remove old pipes covered in asbestos lagging. I was exposed to the asbestos on a daily basis for a year.
"Part of my job as a projectionist for Associated British Cinemas was to check the lighting and change any faulty bulbs. To access the lighting I would have to walk along a catwalk within the ceiling void, which was lined with asbestos, every day."
Alice Humphreys, an asbestos related disease expert, yesterday (Thurs) said the settlement will help to cover Harold's loss of earnings and future care.
She said: "The last few years have been very difficult for the Hart family as they come to terms with Harold's illness, which has left him feeling constantly breathless, weak and unable to do the job and hobbies he loved.
"As the delay between exposure to asbestos dust and the onset of symptoms of mesothelioma is more than 30 years in most cases, people like Mr Hart are only now discovering their health has been affected as a result.
"Mesothelioma is an asbestos related cancer for which there is sadly no cure. Mr Hart's case is not isolated and it's always sad to learn of such exposure to asbestos when, even in the 1960s and 1970s, employers knew of the risks associated with the dangers of inhaling lethal fibres.
"No amount of money can make up for his illness, but the settlement will provide him, and his family, with some financial security."
source: telegraph.co.uk
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