Industrial Disease Experts Appeal For Former Workers In Asbestos Investigation

The devastated son of a former electrical welder, who died from mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining caused by exposure to asbestos decades ago, is appealing to his father’s former colleagues to come forward and provide information to help the family get answers following his death.

Ivor Scothern, from Wincobank in Sheffield, died in April 2013 at the age of 86, shortly after he received his mesothelioma diagnosis.

Now, his son, Linzey Scothern, has instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how and where his father was exposed to asbestos.

He believes Ivor was exposed during his working life and he is now appealing for his father’s former colleagues to come forward and provide information on the working conditions he was exposed to and the presence of asbestos at a number of companies he worked at.

Ivor worked for Cravens Ltd, at the company’s factory in Darnall, Sheffield, in the late 1940s and 50s, before moving to the English Steel Corporation.

From 1961 until 1971, he worked for Davy & United Engineering Co Ltd and later, worked for R Jenkins & Co Ltd, based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, from 1971 to 1985. He worked in and around the South Yorkshire area when he was employed by the companies.

His son Linzey, 68, recalls his father spent a significant amount of time working in close proximity to asbestos-lagged pipework during his regular duties and he also believes asbestos materials may have been used at the various sites he worked at, as it was commonly used during this time.

Laura Haigh, an industrial disease expert at law firm Irwin Mitchell, representing the family, said: “Mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer that has devastating consequences for sufferers, like Ivor, and their loved ones. Sadly, despite employers knowing how dangerous it is, many in the past did not do enough to manage the risks of asbestos exposure to protect their employees.

“Because the illness is linked to exposure to asbestos decades ago it can sometimes be difficult to find information on the working conditions the victims have endured.

“In Ivor’s case, he worked for numerous different employers across the region, including Cravens in Darnall, and we would urge anyone who worked with him at any of the South Yorkshire based companies to get in touch, as they might be able to provide vital information that may assist with our investigations.”

Linzey said: “The shock of how quickly the illness affected my father so soon after he was diagnosed still upsets me and my family, but we are determined to find answers and seek justice for him more than ever.

“Hopefully, people who he worked with might be able to help to provide more information so that we can determine what caused his terrible illness.”

Anyone with any information about the working conditions with either of Ivor’s former employers should contact Laura Haigh at Irwin Mitchell on 0114 274 4420 or email laura.haigh@irwinmitchell.com.

Our expert mesothelioma lawyers will provide you with free initial advice on your compensation claim if you or a loved on has been diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.