Specialist Industrial Disease Lawyers Investigating Exposure to Asbestos

The family of a former machinist is appealing to her former workmates for help in her asbestos investigation following her dearth from mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lung caused by exposure to asbestos dust and fibres

Ethel Morris, from Ipstones, Stoke-on-Trent died in February 2013 aged 73 following her contraction of mesothelioma. Ethel was originally from Butterworth near Leek.

Her family believe Ethel was exposed to the deadly material while working for Slimma Slacks, a clothing manufacturer that made items for a number of major retailers. She worked at the Barngate Street and Nelson Street factories in Leek from 1965 until 1987.

Ethel’s husband, Keith, and two children, Wendy and Ian, backed by their specialist legal team at Irwin Mitchell are appealing for Ethel’s former workmates from the company to come forward and provide information about the working conditions and how she may have come into contact with asbestos.

Ethel’s family believe that she was exposed via the asbestos-lagged pipework that powered the trouser pressing machine that she operated. It is believed that asbestos was used throughout the building as an insulator and was widely used in the roofs and ceilings of the factory.

Katrina London, a specialist industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office representing the family, said:

Expert Opinion

“Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive, and sadly, incurable form of cancer that cause a significant amount of pain and suffering for the 2,500 people in the UK who die from the disease every year.

“We would like to hear from anyone who remembers Ethel from Slimma Slacks or those who can provide details on the presence of asbestos at the factories, the warnings provided to staff about the danger of the substance or the safety measures in place to reduce exposure to asbestos.” Katrina London - Senior Associate Solicitor

Ethel’s daughter Wendy, a nurse from Leek, said: “We have been left devastated by Mum’s death and we are all struggling to come to terms with how much we miss her. Mum was a loving and kind person, she was generous not only to her own family and friends but also to anyone she encountered. She would only do good terms and expected nothing in return.

“Mum’s death was premature, cruel and, despite every effort, it was painful and undignified.

“More needs to be done to raise awareness of asbestos. We would not like any other family to experience what mum and our family have been through. If this appeal does nothing other than make people reflect and then question their own health, we have achieved something.

“We would like some answers about Mum’s exposure to asbestos and why more wasn’t done to protect her from the dangers asbestos is well known to pose. Hopefully, her former colleagues from Slimma Slacks will come forward and provide our legal team with the information - no matter how small - they need to get justice for us and for Mum.”

Anyone who thinks they may be able to help is asked to contact Katrina London at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors on 0161 838 7262 or email Katrina.London@IrwinMitchell.com

If you or a loved one has been affected by an asbestos related illness, our solicitors can help you to claim compensation. See our Asbestos Claims page for more information.