Sale Man Calls On Old Colleagues To Come Forward With Information

A former factory worker from Cheshire who was diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease around 18 months ago has teamed up with legal experts to appeal to his old work colleagues for help in gaining justice regarding the illness.

George Grafton, 85, from Sale, was informed by doctors in August 2016 that he had developed asbestosis, a lung condition associated with asbestos exposure which can also lead to mesothelioma, a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs.

Following the diagnosis, he instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers to help him gain answers regarding his illness and how his exposure to the deadly material occurred.

Now, as part of their work, the lawyers are keen to hear from anyone who worked with George during his two spells at D Anderson & Son Ltd in Manchester in the 1950s and 1960s, which is when he believes he is most likely to have come into contact with asbestos.

Dominic Hemsi, the specialist asbestos lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office who is representing George, said:

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“It is a shocking truth that George’s case is very similar to a huge number which we are involved in, with our clients developing very serious health conditions many years after they are thought to have come into contact with asbestos.

“We are hard at work investigating George’s employment history and are now particularly keen to get more information regarding the conditions at D Anderson & Son Ltd during the times he was employed there. Any details, no matter how small, could have a huge impact on our efforts to help him gain justice regarding his illness.” Dominic Hemsi - Partner

George worked at D Anderson & Son Ltd for two to three years during the 1950s before then returning there between 1961 and 1966. 

He recalled: “During both periods I worked there as a machinist and would be producing both roofing felt and damp course which was made from asbestos materials. Furthermore, there were also occasions where I would need to apply asbestos to products and very often this would lead to me inhaling fibres.

“It has been devastating to get my diagnosis and I now just feel like I deserve answers as to whether more could and should have been done to prevent me from being exposed to asbestos. I would be hugely grateful to anyone who can help me.”

Anyone with information regarding the projects in question is asked to contact Dominic Hemsi at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office on 0161 259 1516 or Dominic.Hemsi2@IrwinMitchell.com. 

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