Industrial Disease Specialists Launch Investigation

A grandfather-of-three is appealing to his former colleagues to help with an investigation after he was diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness.

Retired Joseph Naisbitt, 69, from Middlesbrough, Cleveland, has instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his exposure to asbestos, which he believes occurred at work between 1962 and 1998.

During this period he carried out work for various companies as an Instrument Engineering Technician and Construction Inspection Engineer.

As a result of his exposure to asbestos the 69-year-old, who lives with his wife of 30 years, Wendy, has developed pleural plaques and asbestosis, which has left him suffering from chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath and a cough.

The father-of-three now has a diminished lung function, is lethargic, kept awake by pain and has difficulty walking long distances.

Joseph believes he was exposed to asbestos and that he was given inadequate warnings of the dangers the material posed to his health.

He also told his legal team at Irwin Mitchell that he was not provided with protective clothing or breathing apparatus during the work he carried out at various chemical plants and North Sea Oil rig platforms.

He believes his exposure to the potentially deadly substance may have occurred during his time working for a Billingham and Wilton based chemical plant, where he worked from 1970 until 1974.

Joseph also recalls working on North Sea Oil platforms throughout the 1980s for MM Offshore Engineering Limited (formerly known as ‘Morgan-Moore Engineering Ltd’ and ‘Haden Moore Engineering Ltd’).

Between 1989 to 1993, he worked on platforms in the North Sea Oil field for Orion Engineering Services Limited and believes he came into contact with asbestos during this time.

He went on to work for AMEC Process & Energy Limited, formerly known as AMEC Construction Services Ltd, between 1995 and 1998, on production platforms and believes he may have come into contact with the material during this period.

Joseph, with the backing of his legal team at Irwin Mitchell, is now appealing to his former colleagues to come forward with information on the working conditions and safety measures in place at the firms to help with the investigation into his exposure decades ago.

Expert Opinion

"The dangers of asbestos have been known for many years and sadly Joseph is now suffering the effects of illnesses related to his asbestos exposure.

“It is vital that we investigate conditions and health and safety practices at the various companies he worked for to discover if more could have been done more to prevent his exposure to the deadly dust.

“It’s unacceptable that anyone should be left with a debilitating illness because their health was not protected at work.”
Roger Maddocks - Partner

Joseph said: “I loved my job and have worked hard all of my life. It is a very bitter pill to swallow that conditions at the companies I worked for are now causing my health to suffer.

“They were often very dusty environments and I could not help but breathe in the asbestos dust and in most places we were never provided with any masks or other breathing protection or warned of the dangers of asbestos.

“If anyone can remember me or worked at these places at the same time as me I would be grateful if they could get in touch to help me and my family get answers.”

Anyone with information on the presence of asbestos at the companies mentioned should contact Emma Tordoff on 0191 279 0104 or email Emma.Tordoff@IrwinMitchell.com

If you or a loved one has been suffered due to an asbestos related illness, our specialist asbestos claims team can help you to claim compensation. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.