Scrap Metal Worker Dies Of Asbestos Exposure

A man from Huddersfield has died after being exposed to asbestos when he worked at a scrap metal merchants.

While working at a merchant’s yard, the man stripped copper boilers and it is believed this is when the exposure occurred.

The Hungarian-born man was 80 when he died and spent most of his life working in scrap metal, often dismantling boilers which were lagged with asbestos.

He was left wheelchair-bound after having a stroke in 2008 and last year he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. He died in May this year. An inquest confirmed his illness was brought on by asbestos exposure and the Coroner cited an ‘industrial disease’ in his verdict.

Working With Asbestos

Asbestos was a material commonly used in many industrial workplace environments and there are certain laws in place to make sure that your employer does everything possible to protect you from the harmful effects. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 is in place to highlight the duties placed on employers to manage asbestos risks in the workplace.

Types of illnesses related to asbestos exposure include mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other respiratory illnesses.

A characteristic of asbestos-related illnesses is late-onset symptoms which can often be decades following original exposure. This means that former companies have folded and employers are difficult to trace. It is therefore recommended that you enlist the help of a qualified workplace personal injury lawyer team to help with your asbestos claim.

Claiming Compensation For Asbestos Exposure

If you or a member of your family has suffered an asbestos-related illness it can have a life-changing effect and is often painful and difficult for victims and those around them.

Please call us on 0333 358 3034 to find out more about how we can help you.

Published 13th February 2015.