Plumber Awarded £54,000 in Compensation for Asbestosis

Case by: LLB (Hons) & LPC Stacy Pimlott Updated: February 10, 2022

Plumber who was exposed to asbestos at work awarded compensation

Our industrial disease solicitors have recently settled a case on behalf of a client who suffers from asbestosis, a lung condition that is frequently caused by being exposed to asbestos at work.

What was the case?

Our client was employed as an apprentice plumber from 1957 to 1963. In this role he helped with the removal of boiler casings and asbestos lagging from large industrial boilers at various factories.

He had to strip off old, crumbling asbestos lagging and casing by hand. He was also required to remove fire bricks that had been contaminated with asbestos dust.

When he finished removing the casing and lagging he would have to sweep the area, before shovelling the asbestos dust and debris into a skip.

Then, from around 1964 to 1966 our client was employed by another company, who were the second defendant in his case.

He was employed as a plumber based at a factory in Leeds where he was required to undertake general maintenance plumbing work. He would regularly required to strip off old asbestos lagging from pipework, again by hand.

In order for him to re-lag the pipework, our client had to reuse old asbestos lagging or missed new asbestos lagging using asbestos fibre mixed in open containers. This meant that he would be constantly inhaling dangerous asbestos fibres.

Outcome

Unfortunately for our client, his employers’ negligence has led to him developing an incurable asbestos related disease which will affect him for the rest of his life.

However, despite this, we are pleased to have been able to help get this client the result he deserves so that his financial, emotional and physical suffering is compensated.

If you’re suffering after being exposed to a dangerous substance like asbestos at work, our industrial disease team could help you.

Hear more about the member(s) of our team featured above:

• Nimish Patel Senior Associate Solicitor/Team Manager view profile