Expert Lawyers Are Investigating Asbestos Exposure That Caused Fatal Cancer

The family of a former Printer who died from mesothelioma are appealing to his former colleagues for help after instructing specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether more could have been done by his former employers to protect him.

Geoffrey Brent, from Wetherby, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in September 2016 and sadly died three months later, aged 81.  Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and is caused by exposure to asbestos fibres often decades before symptoms begin to appear.

Before he died Geoffrey instructed expert Industrial Disease Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he was exposed to asbestos and whether this was due to the negligence of his former employers.

Together, Geoffrey’s family and their legal team believe Geoffrey was exposed to asbestos at two places throughout his employment history: Wildblood & Ward and Petty and Sons, which was later bought out by the British Printing Corporation.

Between 1955 and 1957, Geoffrey worked at Wildblood &Ward which was based at Meadow Lane in Leeds.  Before he died, he recalled to his legal team that there were heated and lagged pipes around the printing presses and he believed they were lagged in asbestos. There was also a large coke boiler which was potentially lagged in asbestos. 

When maintenance work would be carried out on the pipework, the asbestos would have to be removed that would lead to dust being created which would linger in the air and be inhaled by the workers.

Geoffrey later went to work for Petty and Sons in 1961 which was initially based in Whitehall Road in Leeds.  It was later bought out by the British Printing Corporation and in 1986 moved to Dewsbury Road in Beeston. Geoffrey remained employed here until 1997.

The factory where Geoffrey worked was a large factory, around two football pitches in size.  There were presses all over the factory which printed leaflets, magazines and flyers. The drive belts from these presses constantly generated dust which was visible in the air and inhaled by Geoffrey.

Amanda Jane Franklin, Geoffrey’s daughter, said: “I urge any of my dad’s former colleagues to come forward with any details of the working conditions at Wildblood & Ward and Petty and Sons, later the British Printing Corporation.

“Dad was an independent person and it was hard to see the illness take hold of him. It all happened so quickly that there was very little time to get answers or justice for him while he was alive.

“Dad was convinced that asbestos was present in the factories of the employers mentioned. He would often return home covered in dust which we now believe was asbestos dust. So if anyone who used to work with him can provide information that would be helpful to the legal team at Irwin Mitchell, it would mean a lot to me and my family.”

Geoffrey initially began to feel unwell in August 2016 and sought out medical attention. His GP believed he had a chest infection, however further tests at Harrogate District Hospital and St James’ Hospital showed that Geoffrey was suffering from mesothelioma. 

Ian Toft, a specialist industrial disease expert based at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office, who represents Geoffrey’s family said: 

Expert Opinion

“We believe that Geoffrey was exposed to asbestos whilst working for Petty & Sons. Petty & Sons later become known as the British Printing Corporation.

“We are seeking to find answers for Geoffrey’s family in order to help them understand precisely how his exposure to asbestos arose. Before he died, Geoffrey provided a written statement dealing with where he worked whilst employed at the British Printing Corporation but we need more information.

“The dangers and risks from exposure to asbestos dust were known widely by companies from at least the 1950s. However, all too often we see workers and their families who have been left devastated later because they were not given the correct safety equipment to protect them from exposure”. Ian Toft - Partner

Anybody who knew or worked with Geoffrey who worked at Wildblood &Ward or Petty & Sons during the relevant periods and can provide any information is asked to contact Ian Toft at Irwin Mitchell on 0113 218 6453 or by email at ian.toft@irwinmitchell.com.