Specialist Industrial Disease Lawyers Investigating Exposure To Asbestos
The widow of a former labourer and forklift truck driver who passed away in July is appealing to his former workmates for help in an asbestos investigation after he died of an industrial disease.Thomas Henshaw, 77, from Wallasey, Merseyside, passed away on July 12th 2014 after losing his battle with mesothelioma, which is a terminal cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos dust and fibres.
His widow Catherine has instructed expert industrial disease lawyers at law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate Thomas’ exposure to asbestos during his employment and to find out if steps could have been taken to prevent his cancer.
She believes that her husband was exposed to asbestos during his time working at English Electric, at the site on the East Lancashire Road during the 1960s and 1970s when he was employed as a labourer and forklift truck driver.
Catherine, 71, backed by her legal team at Irwin Mitchell, is now appealing for her husband’s former work mates to come forward with information about the working conditions at English Electric and her husband’s exposure to asbestos. We would like to find out if more could have been done to protect Thomas during his employment.
Charlotte Hobday, a specialist industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office representing Catherine, said: “This case is another example of the terrible consequences that asbestos exposure can have, with Mr Henshaw’s family still trying to come to terms with their loss. We urge anyone who worked with Thomas, at English Electric during the 1960s and 70s to come forward as you may be able to help with the investigation and help Thomas’ widow achieve the justice she deserves.
“The dangers of asbestos have been known since the turn of the last century and employers should have been taking measures to reduce the likelihood of workers coming into contact with the material. They should have provided protective clothing especially respirators.
“There are so many people suffering from asbestos-related diseases now as a result of the failings of their employers years ago – it is a scandal. We hope that Thomas’ former work mates come forward with information and help answer many of the questions that his family have about his exposure.”
Catherine Henshaw added: “Losing Thomas has had a huge effect on the family and we miss him incredibly. It is awful that he contracted a terminal illness all these years later through simply going to work every day and doing his job.
“I ask anyone who worked with him at English Electric to come forward.”
Anyone with information about the working conditions at English Electrics in the 1960s and 1970s should contact Charlotte Hobday at Irwin Mitchell on 0161 838 2381 or email charlotte.hobday@irwinmitchell.com.