Expert Lawyers Investigating Asbestos Exposure That Caused Mesothelioma

A former electrician from Tyne and Wear who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, is appealing for his former colleagues to help expert lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether more could have been done by his former employers to protect him.

George Dowey Baxter, 80, from Whitley Bay, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in March 2017. Mesothelioma is an incurable asbestos-related cancer affecting the lining of the lungs which develops as a result of exposure to harmful asbestos dust and fibres decades ago.

George has instructed industrial illness experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate where he was exposed to asbestos and whether more could have been done to protect him during his employment at various companies.

Together, George and his specialist asbestos disease lawyers believe he was exposed to asbestos at five places throughout his employment history: F W Johnsons, Smith’s Dock Limited, Vickers Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd and Hotpoint Ltd.

George worked for F W Johnsons immediately after leaving school; he was employed as an apprentice electrician between 1951 and 1957. George would work on various sites carrying out different types of electrical work.

When working on the sites, George recalls working alongside joiners who would use asbestos sheets to insulate doors. These sheets would have to be cut down to size, a process which would create a lot of dust which would linger in the air and be inhaled by the workers.

After leaving F W Johnsons, George worked for Smith’s Dock Limited in 1957 at their shipyard in North Shields. Here, George believes he was exposed to asbestos as the pipework and boilers aboard the ships were lagged with asbestos.

George has recalled to his legal team that when repairs were made to the pipework on the ships, the tradesman would have to knock the asbestos lagging off the pipework which would create a lot of dust. Although George only worked here for six weeks in 1957, he did return to the firm in 1959 for a few months.

In between his employment with Smith’s Dock Limited, George worked for Vickers Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Limited at their Walker Naval Yard. He believes he was exposed to asbestos when working on new build ships in the Naval Yard, as laggers aboard the ships would work alongside him lagging bulkheads, pipework and installing ceilings using asbestos.

It was working alongside laggers in the same manner as he did at Vickers Armstrong, that George believes he was exposed to asbestos when employed by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited at their Wallsend Shipyard in Tyne and Wear.

George has told his legal team that it was impossible to escape the asbestos dust and fibres on board the ships. George was employed by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited between 1959 and 1961.

A final line of enquiry the legal team at Irwin Mitchell are keen to investigate is George’s employment at Hotpoint Limited, where he worked from 1964 until 1995. George believes he was exposed to asbestos when replacing the clutches on Hotpoint top loader washing machines, as the linings may have contained asbestos.

George, who has been married to his wife Norma, 75, for 41 years, said: “My diagnosis came as a complete shock to me and I was angry and frustrated to find out that it was likely caused by my exposure to asbestos during my working life. At no point was I given any training or warned about the dangers of asbestos, or even provided with a mask.

“The disease has already had a significant impact on my day-to-day life and I am concerned about what the future holds for me and my wife as my condition inevitably worsens.

“I urge any of my former colleagues from the companies mentioned to contact my legal team at Irwin Mitchell if they feel they can provide any details that can help this investigation and help my lawyers get justice for me and ensure those responsible for my exposure to asbestos are held to account.”

George was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002, however remained generally healthy and would play golf up to four times a week. However at the end of 2016 he began to notice symptoms of what he now knows to be mesothelioma.

Emma Tordoff, a Solicitor and industrial disease specialist at Irwin Mitchell who is representing George, said:

Expert Opinion

“We are working with George in his fight for justice to find out how he was exposed to asbestos.

“We urge any of his former colleagues to come forward and help us with the investigation by providing any information about the working conditions at F W Johnsons, Smith’s Dock Limited, Vickers Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd and/or Hotpoint Ltd.

“Mesothelioma is incurable and its debilitating symptoms can only be treated temporarily. George and his wife are now suffering terribly, simply because he wasn’t adequately protected at work.” Emma Bell - Senior Associate Solicitor

Anyone who remembers working with George or can provide information about the working conditions at the firms mentioned should contact Michael McGowan on 0191 279 0104 or email michael.mcgowan@irwinmitchell.com.