Warehouse Worker And Lawyers Seek Information On Working Conditions At Port Of Ipswich Following Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A retired Ipswich warehouse worker is making a heartfelt appeal to his former colleagues for help to establish how he fell ill with asbestos-related cancer.

Michael Good, 75, lives with mesothelioma, which is a terminal cancer of the lining of the lungs most commonly associated with exposure to asbestos often decades previously.

Following his diagnosis earlier this year, Michael instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his illness and whether it could be linked to his work history.

Ahead of this year’s Action Mesothelioma Day on 1 July, he is now joining with his legal team in appealing to his former workmates at the Port of Ipswich, which later became Associated British Ports (ABP), for information on the conditions they faced there. 

Michael began his employment at the Port of Ipswich in 1974, starting work in the warehouses before moving on to a role as a crane driver and then a foreman crane driver.  He retired in 2012.

Expert Opinion

“The past few months have been incredibly difficult for Michael and his family as they attempt to come to terms with his diagnosis and what the future holds.

Mesothelioma is a particularly unpleasant disease which currently has no cure. While we can’t change what Michael is going through, we’re determined to help him obtain the answers he deserves and establish how he fell ill.

We’d therefore be grateful to hear from anyone that recalls working alongside Michael and can provide information on the conditions they faced.

His story is also a stark reminder of the dangers of asbestos and the terrible legacy its use has left behind.”
Samantha Pitts (nee Shaw) - Senior Associate

During his employment with the Port of Ipswich, Michael recalled the warehouses and sheds had corrugated asbestos roofs and the sides of the buildings were cladded with corrugated asbestos sheeting.

He told his legal team that maintenance would be carried out on the warehouses, with Michael standing next to where the asbestos sheets were being repaired or replaced.  He said the floors were “very dusty” and he would be required to sweep up the dust left behind.

When Michael became a crane driver, he was aware of the brakes and brake pads containing asbestos.  He said when the crane slowed down, “a load of dust” would be released into the air which was “unavoidable.”

Shortly after Christmas last year, Michael began complaining of breathlessness.  He went to see his GP who referred him to the chest clinic for an X-ray and CT scan.  Fluid was drained from his lungs and, following further tests, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Michael lives with his partner of 22 years, Pearl, 74.  Between them, the couple have three children and seven grandchildren.

Michael said: “Before my diagnosis, I’d always been really fit and healthy. I played golf and squash, and enjoyed going to watch Ipswich Town play football which involved walking around half a mile to and from the car, so when I started to get short of breath I thought I was maybe just coming down with a cold.  To be told it was mesothelioma was a huge shock to both me and Pearl.

“Since then, I have had my chest drained four times and now started chemotherapy.  My life has changed so much in the last few months and I still sometimes find it incredibly difficult to accept what’s happening to me.

“Sadly, I know there is nothing I can do to change what I’m going through, but I need to know whether my work was to blame.  While I was there, I remember the floors being very dusty and sometimes there would be a load of dust in the air which was completely unavoidable.

“I would be so grateful if anyone with any information could come forward.  Any detail, no matter how small, could be vital in me obtaining the answers I deserve.”

Anyone with information that could assist with this case is asked to contact Samantha Shaw on 01223 791815 or by e-mail at samantha.shaw@irwinmitchell.com

Held every year, Action Mesothelioma Day brings together victims of the disease, those who have loved ones affected, healthcare professionals, support groups and those working to understand mesothelioma and find a cure. The day aims to ensure the public are also aware of the terrible impact mesothelioma can have on sufferers and their carers.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling asbestos-related disease cases