Family Of Sheet Metal Worker Appeal For Help After Mesothelioma Death

The family of a sheet metal worker is appealing to his former colleagues for help to understand how and where he was exposed to asbestos after he died from mesothelioma – a cancer of the lung lining caused by exposure to the deadly substance several decades ago.

Jim Hacking, from Mirfield, began suffering shortness of breath and chest pains in early 2013 during a holiday to Belgium. On his return to the UK, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died at the age of 67, in October 2013, after a short battle with the disease.

Before his death, Jim instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate where and how he was exposed to asbestos dust and if more could have been done to protect him from the material.

He believes he was exposed to asbestos during his time as a sheet metal worker at the Trueform Sheet Metal Company in Gomersal, West Yorkshire, where he worked between 1972 until 1974 and again, later, between 1975 and 1979.

His job involved him carrying out fabrication work on various sites where he clad boilers and pipes. In carrying out this work he was frequently exposed to asbestos dust and fibres.

Now his son, James, 45, from Mirfield, backed by his legal team at Irwin Mitchell, is appealing to Jim’s former colleagues to come forward with information that will help him understand how his father came into contact with asbestos and what measures, if any, were in place to protect employees at the company.

Mark Aldridge, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell specialising in asbestos-related disease claims, said: “Mesothelioma causes a great deal of distress and suffering to the victims and their families and it is often that the case exposure to asbestos occurs when employers turned a blind eye to the safety implications of working in and around the deadly substance.

“Unfortunately, it is usually the case the symptoms associated with mesothelioma only present themselves decades after the exposure takes place, in James’ case it was about 40 years after his exposure. In some cases, once the victim passes away, the only hope families have for justice is to secure the help of former workers who may themselves be at risk of this disease.
 
“We would ask that anyone who thinks they might have information about the working conditions at Trueform Sheet Metal Company, or the presence of asbestos at the firm, to contact us and help James’ family secure closure following his death."

James said: “My dad was so ill that our focus was entirely on his deteriorating health and supporting him in the final months of his life. His condition progressed so quickly we didn't have a chance to look into how he was exposed to asbestos during his life.

“However, we now need answers and justice for my dad. I hope his former colleagues will be able to tell us about the conditions that they and my dad experienced, how he came to be exposed to this lethal material and why something wasn’t done to prevent that exposure."

Anyone who has information about the working conditions at Trueform Sheet Metal Company in Gomersal should contact Mark Aldridge on 0113 394 6757 or email Mark.Aldridge@IrwinMitchell.com.