Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Employer Pays Compensation to Family of Pleural Thickening Victim
21st March 2011
Our specialist industrial disease lawyers recently acted in a case against a manufacturing company. They negligently exposed a former employee to asbestos, causing him to develop an asbestos-related illness in later life.
Asbestos Exposure at Work
Our client was employed in a factory producing moulded plastic parts for household items. He worked with the dry powder used for the manufacturing process and this contained asbestos. He would open sacks of the powder, pour out the contents, then measure it into the moulds by hand. After the products came out of the presses he would also have to file down the edges and sometimes drill holes through them. At the end of the day our client would sweep up any loose dust in his area and, by the time he went home, his clothes and hair would be covered with dust.
The claimant was never warned about the dangers of working with asbestos and was not provided with personal protective equipment to prevent him from inhaling the dust. His employer also failed to employ health and safety measures such as extraction systems to make the workplace safer.
Pleural Thickening
Pleural thickening is one of several illnesses that can be caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres and it affects the lining of the lungs, or pleura. This lining becomes thickened, scarred and constricted, which causes sufferers to experience symptoms including shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain and reduces their quality of life.
Our client was diagnosed with pleural thickening and pleural plaques and he had to undergo surgery to help relieve his symptoms. His illness caused him to suffer breathlessness and he would become exhausted by normal activities like gardening. He could no longer cope with household tasks, so he required a lot of help from family members, and he was unable to continue with his hobbies or social activities.
Industrial Disease Claim
The claimant appointed our lawyers, who are experts in asbestos compensation claims, to assist him in pursing a case against his former employer.
Our client sadly died before the case could be concluded, however we were able to continue the claim on behalf of his family. We commenced court proceedings against the defendants and put forward details from other former employees about the use of asbestos at the workplace. They made an initial offer, which we rejected as it did not reflect the level of harm caused, and we were able to negotiate an increased settlement of damages in the sum of £27,500.
Compensation Claim Advice
If you or a member of your family is suffering from pleural thickening, asbestosis, mesothelioma, or any other illness caused by the negligence of an employer, a compensation claim may be possible.
Contact The Legal Line on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online, for expert legal advice on a cost-free basis.
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