Asbestos-related diseases still likely for former Westbury Cement Works employees

Asbestos was widely used at the cement plant and as a consequence employees were exposed to asbestos dust. There is a long interval between the actual exposure to asbestos and the development of asbestos-related illnesses and sadly there remains the chance that employees who worked at the cement works during the 1960s may go on to develop asbestos-related illnesses.

Associate Maggie Powell in our Industrial Diseases team just settled a claim on behalf of the Estate of Mr C who worked at the cement works between 1962 and 1988. Helen Childs, head of the Industrial Disease team, is dealing with a claim on behalf of a client whose husband worked at the cement works. The client was exposed to asbestos dust in a case of ‘secondary exposure’: her husband came home with asbestos fibres on his clothing, and she laundered them. Judgment has been entered and the claim is now to be quantified.

Hopefully no other employees or their families go on to develop asbestos-related health problems, but the likelihood is that further claims will arise.