Specialist Asbestos-Related Disease Lawyers Investigating Exposure

The heartbroken widow of a former British Rail worker who died from mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos – is appealing to her late husband’s colleagues for help to understand how and why her husband was exposed to the substance.

Paul Bland died aged just 66 in March 2015 after an 18-month battle with the disease, leaving behind his wife Jennifer, from Wolverton, Milton Keynes.

She has now instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how and why Paul was exposed to the deadly substance decades ago and whether the measures that were in place to protect him from inhaling the deadly dust and fibres were sufficient.

After his diagnosis Paul told Jennifer that he believed he was exposed to asbestos while working as an asbestos stripper for British Rail, in the late 1970s and early 80s.

His role at the company’s Wolverton railway works required him to strip asbestos insulation from old train carriages and dispose of the substance, before the carriages were refurbished and introduced back into the rolling stock.

Now Jennifer, backed by her legal team at Irwin Mitchell, is appealing to Paul’s former colleagues at British Rail’s Wolverton railway works to come forward with any information they may have on the working conditions and the safety measures in place to protect workers from inhaling the asbestos dust and fibres, which are known to cause mesothelioma.

Natalia Rushworth, an expert asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said:

Expert Opinion

“Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive, and sadly, incurable disease that can cause a great deal of pain and suffering for victims.

“In many cases, like Paul’s, the exposure to asbestos occurred decades ago and we rely on victims’ colleagues to come forward with the crucial information their loved ones need to get answers about what caused the terrible disease.

“Jennifer understandably wants answers about Paul’s working conditions at the Wolverton railway works, and whether the equipment he was provided with to protect him from inhaling asbestos dust and fibres was appropriate according to the standards which were in place at the time.” Natalia Rushworth-White - Associate Solicitor

Jennifer, a mother-of-two, said: “Paul had been unwell for some time before he was diagnosed, but his diagnosis still completely shocked us all and it was absolutely heartbreaking to see his health deteriorate so quickly after being told he was suffering with mesothelioma.

“Nothing will bring Paul back but we are now determined to understand how he was exposed to asbestos and if more could have been done to prevent him inhaling the dust and fibres that ultimately caused him to develop mesothelioma.

“We hope his former colleagues from the Wolverton British Rail works will remember him and come forward with the crucial information we need to ensure justice is done in Paul’s name.”

Anyone with information on working conditions at British Rail’s Wolverton railway works or information on the safety precautions in place during the 70s and 80s should contact Natalia Rushworth on 0207 4213 900 or email Natalia.Rushworthwhite@IrwinMitchell.com

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our expert mesothelioma solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.