Specialist Industrial Disease Lawyers Helping Former Rope Splicer To Find Answers

A former rope splicer who has been diagnosed with the terminal asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma is appealing to her former workmates to come forward and help with an investigation into her asbestos exposure.

Joan Burrows (maiden name Every), 88, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester was diagnosed with the disease, which is caused by exposure to asbestos decades before symptoms begin to appear, in September 2015.

She has now instructed expert industrial disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office to investigate her exposure to asbestos and find out whether steps could have been taken to prevent her illness.

Joan, a mother-of-two and grandmother-of-six, believes she was exposed to asbestos through her employment with William Kenyon & Sons Limited at its factory in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester between 1942 and 1953 and from 1968 until 1971.

She has told her legal team at Irwin Mitchell that she used to walk through a very dusty area of the factory where a product she knew as “bull muck” was being produced. Asbestos insulation was often referred to as “bull muck”.

She also walked through an area of the factory where there was a conveyor belt of grey shredded tissue, which may have been asbestos.

Joan is now appealing to her former workmates at William Kenyon & Sons Limited to come forward and help by providing the crucial information she and her legal team need to seek justice and answers for Joan.

Joan initially worked as a labourer, sweeping the floors and cleaning the weaving machinery. Subsequently, she worked on the looms as a weaver and later, as a rope splicer.

She believes asbestos may have been used in the weaving and rope making processes and that she may have been exposed when sweeping up and cleaning the machines of asbestos dust and fibres and later when she was splicing the ropes.

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

Expert Opinion

“Asbestos is an extremely dangerous substance, the dangers of which have been known for decades. It is vital anyone in contact with asbestos has proper protection.

“Unfortunately, historically such protection has not been given, resulting in workers contracting asbestos-related diseases which can be fatal. Sadly, mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer. It is nearly always caused by asbestos exposure.

“We are asking for Joan’s former colleagues to come forward to provide any information they have about the working conditions and asbestos exposure at William Kenyon & Sons’ factory in Dukinfield.” Katrina London - Senior Associate Solicitor

Joan said: “My only recollection of coming into contact with asbestos was when I worked at the William Kenyon & Sons factory in Dukinfield. I can only hope that some of my former workmates remember this too and will come forward with more information to help."

Joan’s daughter, Marjorie, added: “The mesothelioma diagnosis mum received came as an absolute shock to all of us and we are determined to get to the bottom of her asbestos exposure and to find out who was responsible for failing to protect her from the awful substance.

“I know that my mum doesn’t have long to live and I would like to get her some answers before it’s too late.”

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

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our expert mesothelioma solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.