Expert Industrial Disease Lawyers Investigating Asbestos Exposure

The sons of a former Newcastle joiner are appealing for his former colleagues to come forward with information on how and where he was exposed to the harmful asbestos which caused his terminal cancer.

David Forrest, who passed away in March 2014 aged 66, was one of more than 2,500 people to die from mesothelioma in the UK in 2014 and now his sons, Anthony, 47, and Paul, 44 have instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how and where he was exposed to the deadly dust and fibres.

Before his death David told his expert legal team that he believed he was exposed to asbestos at a number of companies while working as a joiner.

He recalled starting his career at JT Bell and Sons, based in Jesmond, Newcastle where he worked from 1964 to 1965. He believed he may have been exposed to the substance during his apprenticeship with the firm and said he was never told of the dangers of asbestos or the signs to look out for.

David also recalled working for John Laing Services Limited in 1980 and 1981. During his time at the company he worked on the construction of the Royal Victoria Infirmary, the Freeman Hospital and the Newcastle General Hospital and Dental Hospital.

At this time asbestos was widely used in the construction industry and David recalled working alongside laggers, who would mix asbestos paste, releasing dust and fibres into the working atmosphere.

The father-of-two also believed he was exposed to asbestos while working at Rowntree Mackintosh’s Newcastle factory, which was later known as Nestle Rowntree and Nestle UK. David worked at the facility from 1987 until his retirement in 2008 and told his legal team that asbestos ceiling tiles would regularly break apart and fall from the ceiling into corridors he would use.

Roger Maddocks, a Partner and expert asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing David’s family, said:

Expert Opinion

“Mesothelioma is a very aggressive, and sadly, incurable disease that causes the death of over 2,500 people in the UK every year.

“We continue to see the impact asbestos exposure can have on victims decades down the line and it is crucial awareness is raised of the support available for those affected by mesothelioma, which is a terrible disease causing pain and suffering for those unfortunate families.

“We hope that we can now help provide the answers David’s sons Anthony and Paul need about their father’s exposure to asbestos and if more should have been done to protect him from the deadly material.” Roger Maddocks - Partner

David’s son Anthony, from Kenton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, said: “To find out my dad’s death was caused by exposure to asbestos, which may have taken place at work, was shocking.

“We hope dad’s former colleagues will come forward with the information we need to secure justice in his name and ensure other families do not have to go through what we have.”

Anyone with information on the presence of asbestos at the companies David worked at, or information on the safety measures in place to protect workers from asbestos exposure should contact Kirstie Devine on 0191 279 0136 or email Kirstie.Devine@IrwinMitchell.com