Our asbestos claims team were instructed by the family of Mr B, who died of lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos during his employment as a maintenance electrician with International Harvesters of Wheatley Road, Doncaster.Mr B, in the course of his work as an electrician, often had to clamber into the roofspaces alongside asbestos lagged pipework in order to fit and maintain electrical equipment.Although Mr B died without making a statement about his asbestos exposure a number of his former colleagues provided documents, photographs and information about the extent of asbestos used in the plant where he had worked.An independent engineering expert, having considered all the witness evidence, concluded that it was likely that Mr B had been exposed to significant amounts of asbestos, in excess of 25 fibre/ml years. Our medical expert evidence concluded that Mr B had had sufficient asbestos exposure to have doubled the risk of him developing lung cancer as a result of smoking.The Court entered Judgment on the basis that International Harvesters, who did not produce any documents or witness evidence, had failed to protect Mr B from exposure to asbestos at work.Settlement was concluded on payment of compensation of £30,000. Sadly Mr B’s wife had died before him and damages could only be claimed for his pain and suffering and pre-death expenses.
