Plymouth Pensioner Makes Plea for Ex-Colleagues After Asbestos Illness Diagnosis
18/11/2010
A Plymouth pensioner has made a plea for former work colleagues to come forward and help him in his battle for justice after he was diagnosed with an asbestos related illness.
Henry John Smith, 71, from Plymouth was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pleural Thickening, an illness linked to asbestos exposure, in October 2009. It is believed that his illness may have been the result of exposure to asbestos during his employment as a steel fabricator in Plymouth between 1954 until 1973.
Mr Smith, who is married, with two children and two grandchildren, spent more than 13 years working at St Aubyn Engineering Company, being involved in the construction of newly built commercial properties.
Mr Smith, who has previously worked on major developments in St Aubyn’s, the construction of several large hotels in Plymouth, including the Holiday Inn, as well as the city’s SWEB building, Plymouth Power Station, has now called upon former work colleagues to come forward and help his fight for justice.
Helen Grady, a specialist in asbestos related illnesses from Irwin Mitchell’s Bristol office, said: “Mr Smith’s doctors have confirmed that he is suffering from an asbestos related disease. Even as far back as the 1930s, employers were aware of the dangers of asbestos, yet in many cases, little was done to protect workers.
“It can take upwards of 20 years from exposure to the onset of symptoms so we are now seeing the legacy of decades of asbestos exposure suffered by thousands of workers.
“In order to gain justice for Mr Smith and his family it is important to obtain further information about working practices at St Aubyn Engineering and any of its sub-contracted work sites during the 1960s and 70s. We do know that Mr Smith worked on a number of large developments during his time with St Aubyn’s, including the construction of several large hotels in Plymouth, such as the Holiday Inn, as well as the city’s SWEB building, Plymouth Power Station, local stores and office blocks.
“We are hoping that Mr Smith’s work colleagues will have recollections which help us to successfully settle the case.”
Mr Smith commented: “I recall one occasion when I was working on a large old factory on Coxside. The work involved contractors having to pull down the old part of the factory and ripping off an asbestos sheet roof. The dust that came off them covered everything and was still in the air days later. I did not have a face mask so would have inhaled a lot of the dust fibres.
“Although no amount of money will compensate me for the loss of my health, I feel it is important to fight for justice. I now suffer from breathlessness and have to use inhalers several times a day.
“Doctors have confirmed the illness is as a result of being exposed to asbestos and I feel very angry that I was not properly protected during the 1960s and early 1970s by my employers.”
Anyone able to assist should contact Helen Grady at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors on 0870 1500 100 or email helen.grady@irwinmitchell.com
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