Specialist Industrial Disease Lawyers Investigating Asbestos Exposure At Springbank Adult Training Centre, Padiham

The family of Jennifer Ashworth, who died from the terminal asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma, is appealing to her former work mates to come forward and help with an investigation into her asbestos exposure.

Her brother Simon Ashworth, 58, has asked expert industrial disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office to continue to investigate his late sister’s exposure to asbestos, which he believes occurred during her working life.

Jennifer, from Nelson, Lancashire was diagnosed with mesothelioma in October 2014.  She and her family were devastated by the news of her illness and she sadly died from the disease in February 2015, aged 69.  Her family now continue to fight for justice after her death.

She was based at Lancashire County Council’s Springbank Adult Training Centre on West Street in Padiham between 1968 and 2006. Before her death, Jennifer told her family she thought she was exposed to asbestos while working at the premises.

Her role meant she spent time in the sewing room, woodworking room, laundry and kitchen. Jennifer believed that her exposure to asbestos dust and fibres came from working at the Centre.

The building has now been demolished and little information remains about the Centre itself, although Jennifer did recall a time during the 1980s when the Centre closed for a temporary period to have asbestos removed.

Simon and Jennifer’s extended family are now appealing for anyone who worked at Springbank Adult Training Centre during the period Jennifer worked there, or in the  period prior to the 1980s when asbestos would still have been present in the building, to get in touch with their legal team at Irwin Mitchell.

Katrina London, an expert industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said:

Expert Opinion

“Mesothelioma is a form of terminal cancer which is nearly always caused by asbestos exposure, often decades before symptoms begin to present themselves.

“We are asking for Jennifer’s former colleagues to come forward to provide information about the working conditions and the presence of asbestos at Springbank Adult Training Centre in Padiham.

“We are looking to speak to anyone who worked there between the 1960s and the year 2006 and particularly anyone who remembers asbestos being present in the building.” Katrina London - Senior Associate Solicitor

Simon, from Burnley, said: “The impact the mesothelioma diagnosis had on Jennifer was absolutely terrible to see and it was awful for us all to see her in so much pain.

“When we found out the disease is caused by asbestos exposure, which Jennifer believed took place during her time at Springbank, this just added insult to injury. Although we know nothing will bring her back, we are determined to understand how she came into contact with the substance and if more could have been done by her former employers to protect her.

“We hope that those who were at the Springbank Adult Training Centre in Padiham at the same time as Jennifer will remember her and come forward to help us get justice for her. Anything they can remember about the working conditions and the asbestos removal work that took place there could be absolutely crucial and help us get the answers we want about Jennifer’s death and prevent others being left without answers too.”

Anyone who thinks they may be able to help is asked to contact Katrina London, Associate Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell on 0161 838 7262 or by email on Katrina.London@irwinmitchell.com.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos, our expert mesothelioma lawyers could help you claim compensation. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.