Expert Industrial Disease Lawyers Are Investigating Asbestos Exposure

The family of an engineer who died from 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 employers to protect him from the deadly dust.

John Boothroyd, from Otley in West Yorkshire, died on 15 November 2016 aged 78.

Mesothelioma is an incurable asbestos related cancer affecting the lining of the lungs which develops as a result of exposure to harmful dust and fibres decades ago.  During his lifetime, John recalled working for several employers in West Yorkshire which may have led to him being exposed to the deadly asbestos dust.

Shortly before his death, John instructed industrial disease experts at law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate where he was exposed to asbestos and why he wasn’t provided with adequate safety equipment to protect him during his employment.

Regrettably, John was already in the last stages of the disease and it was very difficult for him to recall the detailed facts of his employment, however he did consider that exposure to asbestos may have arisen due to his previous occupational history.

John spent a lengthy time working for Hepworth & Grandage in Shipley and also Yeadon during the years 1958 to 1976.  While he was still alive, John told his legal team that he spent part of his employment manufacturing aeroplane components.

Further to this, John was employed by the GPO as a cable jointer from 1962 to approximately 1964, and would spend long periods working in underground tunnels and running cables.

Lastly, John recalled to his legal team working for a portakabin manufacturer in Otley, in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

Together, John’s family and their specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are now appealing for former colleagues who worked at any of the above companies to help with the investigation as they may have crucial information on the working conditions that John was exposed to.

Nicola Handley, the specialist industrial diseases solicitor at Irwin Mitchell Leeds office who representing the family, said:

Expert Opinion

“We believe John was substantially exposed to asbestos while working in the conditions he described before his death.

“An inquest was held in February this year and it was noted that there was medical evidence that John had substantial exposure to asbestos and a verdict of death due to Industrial Disease was recorded.

“We are therefore seeking to find answers for his family now in order to help them understand precisely how his exposure to asbestos arose and during which employment.

“We are urging any of John’s former colleagues to come forward to help us with the investigation with any information about the working conditions and his employment at Hepworth & Grandage and the GPO. Any knowledge that individuals have in relation to manufacturers of portakabins that were located in Otley during the relevant period would also be welcome.” Nicola Handley - Senior Associate Solicitor

Mesothelioma is incurable and the debilitating symptoms can only be treated temporarily.  The effects of working with asbestos didn’t occur until decades later and John’s family have suffered terribly simply because he wasn’t adequately protected at work.

John’s widow, Ann Boothroyd, said “John was fit and well prior to the diagnosis and we were enjoying spending our retirement together with our family.

“Regrettably, John deteriorated very rapidly and we are now still finding it very difficult as a family to come to terms with the fact that John’s illness was caused by his exposure to asbestos decades ago simply by going to work and it is very important that we now find the answer to how this has happened.”

Anyone who knew or worked with John and can provide any information is asked to contact Ian Toft at Irwin Mitchell on 0370 1500 300 or by email at Ian.Toft@irwinmitchell.com.