Six-figure settlement for pipe fitter who developed mesothelioma from boiler house work.

Asbestos was the most regularly used material to create insulation for many years because it had the ability to withstand heat and cold. This was especially the case for pipes which required protection from extreme weather. The pipes were often lagged with a thick layer of asbestos to help maintain their internal temperature and keep them operating properly.

Mr A, who had worked as a pipefitter for most of his working life, was diagnosed with mesothelioma after he suddenly became very short of breath.  Shortly after he instructed our specialist mesothelioma solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation against his previous employers.

Two of these employers could be traced, and both failed to admit fault after receiving a Letter of Claim. Court proceedings were commenced against them a few months later.

Mr A described exposure to large amounts of asbestos during the course of his working life. He said:

“the air would often be thick with dust in the boiler houses we worked, as there would be no windows and no ventilation. The dust would be as a result of our work, mixing and applying new asbestos, and/or removing old asbestos ”.

He also described mixing asbestos powder to a paste to lag boilers and pipework after they had been installed. As an apprentice he would often have to sweep up after the work was carried out. He worked in very dusty conditions for more than three decades.