Leeds Man Has Instructed Lawyers To Investigate His Dad’s Exposure To The Fatal Asbestos

The devastated family of a former electrical engineer from Leeds, who died of an asbestos-related disease, are appealing to his former colleagues for information on how he was exposed to asbestos.

Grandfather-of-eight Harold Robinson died in October 2015 aged 84. His death came after he had been diagnosed with asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos dust and fibres.

Almost three years since his death, his family remain desperate for answers about how and where Harold, known as Harry, was exposed to the fatal asbestos dust and fibres that killed him.

They have instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate Harry’s exposure to asbestos at his former employers. Unfortunately Harry was unable to provide information on the working environments he endured prior to his death.

Harold worked as an electrical engineer in power stations in the 1950s and 1960s. He was involved building Drax, Ferrybridge and High Marnham power stations among other work for a number of employers including Drake & Gorham, British Insulated Callendar’s Cables, Electric House and Hall & Kay.

Now, Harry’s family and their legal team at Irwin Mitchell are appealing to any of Harry’s former colleagues at these companies to come forward with any information on the work environments Harry would have been in, and the presence of asbestos within them.

Fay Marshall, a solicitor and the asbestos-related disease specialist at Irwin Mitchell representing Harry’s family, said: 

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“Asbestos has had a terrible impact on so many lives across the decades and this is yet another example of how the consequences of exposure often only become clear many years after contact has occurred.

“Thousands of people still die each year in the UK as a direct result of being made to work in unsafe conditions. Health and safety has come a long way in recent years but the figures show there is still much to do.

“Sometimes they are the victims of tragic but avoidable accidents, or, as with many of our clients, they were exposed to asbestos by their employers many years ago and have, in most cases, suffered terribly as a result.

“We have been working hard to create a full picture of Harry’s work history and would be keen on hearing more regarding the conditions he would have faced during his working life.

“Following his death Harry’s family have been left without answers and there can be no sense of justice without those answers. We hope to speak to witnesses who worked with Harry and who have information on the conditions he worked in.” Fay Marshall - Solicitor

Harold’s son, Kevin Robinson, has recalled to his legal team how his father told him that when he worked in the boiler houses of the power stations he worked on, he and his colleagues would throw asbestos around as if it was snow due to the high quantities present.

Kevin said: “Dad would often tell me about how his workmates would have ‘snow ball’ fights and would joke around. They would ball the asbestos up and throw it at each other. There was that much of the stuff lying around, dad described is as being in a snowstorm. But sadly they don’t seem to have ever been warned about the dangers.

“Dad knew several of his former workmates had died of asbestos-related diseases over time, so we just want to get some answers on why this was allowed to happen.

“If anyone has any information that could prove useful to our legal team at Irwin Mitchell, please do not hesitate and get in touch. We just want to get justice for dad’s death.”

Anyone with information regarding the working conditions at the employers or power stations in question should contact Fay Marshall on 0113 394 6826 or email Fay.Marshall@IrwinMitchell.com. 

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