Victims Of Respiratory Diseases Have Until 23rd February, 2018, To Register For British Steel Group Action
Former British Steel workers suffering from life-limiting and debilitating respiratory diseases (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, temporary exacerbation of asthma, and lung cancer) or squamous cell skin cancer have until 23rd February, 2018 to register to join the group taking legal action against the company.
The group action comes after hundreds developed these conditions which are likely to have been caused by exposure to harmful fumes while working at coking plants in the immediate vicinity of the coke ovens.
The deadline, which was set by the High Court this week, follows its approval of a group litigation order (GLO) in January 2017, which was presented by specialist industrial disease lawyers from Hugh James, based in Cardiff, and Irwin Mitchell. The GLO was applied for after these firms were approached by more than 340 former coke oven workers suffering health problems related to their employment years ago. A large proportion of these, over 50%, lived in Wales.
Insurers for British Steel have already admitted it was in breach of its duty owed to its employees from 1947 until appropriate respiratory protection was provided to the workforce.
Since the High Court gave approval for the group claim in January 2017, more former workers in England have come forward to potentially join the group action.
Lawyers are urging people affected to contact them before the deadline on the 23rd February, 2018, to make sure they don’t miss out on access to justice. After this date, people won’t be able to take action.
Roger Maddocks, a Partner and expert industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said:
Expert Opinion
“The approval of the GLO by the High Court, and the admission of liability, were extremely important milestones and moved the victims and their families a further step closer to securing the justice they deserve concerning the exposure to harmful fumes decades ago at a number of coking plants around the UK.
“The workers we represent, through no fault of their own, developed serious, and in some cases fatal, respiratory illnesses and lung cancers causing them unnecessary pain and suffering when they should be enjoying their later life with their families.
“Nothing can turn back the clock but this legal action will hopefully provide them with the help, support and treatments needed to make dealing with their illness more comfortable.
“However, with the Court now setting this deadline for workers to sign up and we would urge anyone else who feels they were affected by the working conditions at British Steel to come forward so that they too can join the group action and ensure they do not miss out on the justice they deserve.” Roger Maddocks - Partner
Former workers at sites in Wales, Scotland, the North East, Yorkshire and Derbyshire have all come forward to join the claim. Hugh James was contacted by former workers who worked at sites including East Moors, Ebbw Vale, Llanwern, Port Talbot and Shotton.
Kathryn Singh, Partner and industrial disease specialist at Hugh James which is handling cases in Wales, said: “The approval of the Group Litigation Order in January 2017 was a further important step in achieving justice for former British Steel workers. The High Court decision helped to raise awareness of the problem of coke oven-related illnesses, and as a result many more former workers in Wales have come forward to pursue compensation for the devastating illnesses they have suffered.
“As is common in group litigation, we were ordered by the High Court to ensure people who may have been affected know about the litigation and have an opportunity to come forward before the court ordered deadline on the 23 February 2018"
“However, there are undoubtedly more victims out there, including those who may now have moved to other parts of Wales from the areas where they used to work. It is important that people are aware that claims can also be investigated on behalf of the estate of former deceased workers.
“We urge anyone affected to contact us urgently for free advice and for their case to be considered before the closing date of the group register on the 23rd February, 2018. We hope that this group action will pave the way for redress for those whose lives have been severely affected by devastating illnesses.”