Weston man gets compensation for exposure to asbestos

A man from Weston-super- Mare who developed asbestos disease after being given no protection by his employers has won £15,000 in compensation.

Victor Mitchell, pictured, 81, of Beach Road, was awarded the claim after winning a case against three former employers at Bristol County Court.

Mr Mitchell brought the claim against Sevalco Limited, ICI Limited and Wales and West Utilities, formerly British Gas.

This followed asbestos exposure while working for each firm, which led to him being diagnosed with asbestos disease in 2006.

He now suffers from breathlessness, has difficulty walking and has had to move into a ground-floor flat to make life more bearable.

Mr Mitchell was employed at Phil Black Limited, now Sevalco from 1951 to 1956, where he was involved in manufacturing carbon black for the tyre industry.

Pipes at the site were lagged with asbestos with Mr Mitchell given no warning or protection while he carried out regular maintenance work removing it.

He joined ICI at Severnside, Avonmouth in 1961, a heavy organic chemical plant where all the pipe work was also lagged with asbestos.

In the course of his work, Mr Mitchell had to remove asbestos rope from sample lines with much of the rope becoming flaky and falling on his clothing.

In 1964 he moved to British Gas, now Wales and West Utilities, as a senior instrument technician.

He worked there until 1973 and again had extensive exposure to asbestos.

As a result of deteriorating health, doctors diagnosed Mr Mitchell with asbestos disease in 2006 and he sought legal help.

After the case was heard at Bristol County Court, all three defending companies agreed to pay out £15,000 because of his condition.

Mr Mitchell said: "I have had a problem with recurring bronchitis for some years and in 2006 the doctors took an X-ray and discovered I had asbestos disease.

"It did not come as any real surprise I as suspected something was wrong.

"I did not realise I had been exposed however.

"I was involved in the setting up of these industrial plants from 1951 to 1973.

"All the time spent on commissioning these plants asbestos was flying everywhere but we were unaware of the dangers.

"I am sure there must be hundreds of other employees, especially those who worked on the lagging, who have been affected by it but do not know.

"Thankfully it has not been fatal to me but it has caused me underlying health problems, I have problems breathing and walking.

"The money awarded to me will help me to live life more comfortably and it will also give my wife Doreen, 78, some security, should anything happen to me."

Mr Mitchell's solicitor, Brigitte Chandler, of law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall, one of the south of England's leading specialists in asbestos cases, has expressed concern for other previous employees.

She said former colleagues should urgently seek medical and legal advice if they too are suffering breathlessness or other respiratory conditions.

Mrs Chandler said: "Mr Mitchell was in good health until 2006 when a consultant at Weston General Hospital advised him he was suffering from asbestos-related disease.

"He now has to have gardening and other services provided for him and has difficulty shopping and walking any distance.

"Asbestos related illnesses can take up to sixty years to present themselves.

"There are obviously many other men who worked in these large companies who are similarly at risk.

"Any former employees who have respiratory problems should seek medical advice immediately."