Asbestos Lawyer Seeks Help From Round Oak Workers To Investigate Death of Family Man
02/02/2010
The widow of a Worcestershire man who lost her husband to mesothelioma is appealing to his former work colleagues at Round Oak Steelworkers in Kidderminster to come forward and help her legal battle for justice.
Roger Burgess, 58, died from mesothelioma, a form of cancer related to asbestos exposure, on 22 January 2009 leaving behind a wife and two sons. An inquest into his death held on 27 August 2009 recorded a verdict of industrial disease.
It is claimed that he was exposed to asbestos during his 12 year employment at Round Oak Steelworkers in Kidderminster and his widow, Jackie, is now pleading for former colleagues of Mr Burgess or previous employees at Royal Oak to come forward as she continues her fight for justice.
It is hoped that the search will be able to shed light on how Roger came into contact with asbestos dust at Round Oak Steelworks, which is now the site of the Merry Hill Shopping Centre.
One of his roles that Mr Burgess held at Round Oak was of a clerk in the arc furnace section. This position meant that Mr Burgess needed to work amongst two large electric arc furnaces, which, as he recalled, had asbestos components.
In a written statement made shortly before his death, Mr Burgess stated that “the steelworks was a dirty, dusty place to work in.” It is believed that the dust Mr Burgess and his colleagues were exposed to daily, may have contained asbestos.
Mr Burgess then moved to a different area within the site, becoming a supervisor in the rail traffic department. He worked all over the site to oversee the work of the ‘shunters’, again working amongst the furnaces which are believed to have been lined with asbestos.
During his 12 years there, Mr Burgess was not given a mask or other breathing equipment, and wore his own clothes to work. He stated, “I was never warned about the dangers of working with asbestos”.
Before his illness, Mr Burgess was in full time employment and enjoyed an active life. His widow, Jackie Burgess explained: “He was always healthy and lived life to the full. He went to the gym 2 or 3 times a week, played golf and swam regularly. This all changed when he became unwell. That is why this illness came as such a shock to us. He wasn’t himself, and it wasn’t his time to go.
“He was diagnosed in September 2008, and got progressively worse. He suffered for the next 4 months until he passed away in the New Year. This has left such a huge hole in the family.”
Iain Shoolbred, an asbestos lawyer from the Birmingham office of Irwin Mitchell, is representing the family in their claim for compensation.
Iain explained: “To find justice for Jackie and her family, it is vital that I have any information available regarding the work practices undertaken at Round Oak Steelworks from the late 1960s through to its closure in the 1980s. If anyone has any information, it is crucial that they come forward to help with these enquiries.
“Mesothelioma is a fatal illness that occurs years after exposure to asbestos has occurred. There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Round Oaks employed thousands of men and women over the years and it would be helpful to speak to anyone who may have information.”
Anyone who worked with Roger Burgess and/or worked in the Round oaks Steelworks with information about the presence of asbestos should contact Iain Shoolbred at Irwin Mitchell solicitors on iain.shoolbred@irwinmitchell.com on 0870 024 0558.
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