ID Case summary

July 2015

www.ts-­‐p.co.uk   1    

Industrial disease; case summary

Case su

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ary Head  Office  3  Lonsdale  Gardens  Tunbridge  Wells  Kent  TN1  1NX  T  01892  510000  F  01892  540170    Thames  Gateway  Corinthian  House  Galleon  Boulevard  Crossways  Business  Park  Dartford  Kent  DA2  6QE  T  01322  623700  F  01322  623701  

Our  noted  team  of  expert  lawyers  have  been  working  on  industrial  diseases  cases  for  a  number  of  years.    Below  is  a  summary  of  just  a  few  cases  to  highlight  the  type  and  complexity  of  the  work  which  we  do    Carpenter  and  Joiner  exposed  to  asbestos  on  site  

Our  client  worked  in  the  construction  of  new  buildings  as  well  as  refurbishment  of  old  buildings,  including  insulating  roofs.    This  involved  cutting  asbestos  sheets  and  drilling  through  asbestos  creating  large  volumes  of  asbestos  dust  which  he  breathed  in.    He  later  developed  mesothelioma  and  was  advised  he  had  around  9  months  to  live  and  would  need  increasing  levels  of  care.    Thomson  Snell  &  Passmore  LLP  successfully  negotiated  a  five  figure  sum  to  compensate  the  claimant  for  his  pain  and  suffering.  Sadly  the  claimant  died  shortly  after  the  settlement  was  reached.    Prisoner  sustains  chemical  burns  in  prison  laundry  

Our  client  in  this  chemical  poisoning  claim  was  a  48  year  old  man  who  was  working  in  a  prison  laundry  room  where  he  was  required  to  change  the  chemical  barrels  when  an  alarm  indicated  that  a  change  was  required.  

The  claimant  had  picked  up  a  new  chemical  barrel  and  was  moving  it  into  place  when,  within  a  few  minutes  of  touching  the  barrel,  he  developed  chemical  burns  to  both  his  arms.  

The  claimant  had  not  been  provided  with  any  safety  equipment,  apart  from  a  pair  of  gloves  which  were  not  suitable.  He  had  been  wearing  a  T-­‐shirt  on  his  upper  body,  meaning  that  his  arms  were  therefore  bare  and  exposed  to  the  chemicals  on  the  outside  of  the  barrel.  

Thomson  Snell  &  Passmore  LLP  obtained  a  substantial  settlement  for  the  claimant  to  compensate  him  for  the  pain,  suffering  and  loss  he  sustained.  

Steam  locomotive  engineer  develops  mesothelioma  

We  acted  for  a  claimant  who,  during  the  course  of  his  employment  in  a  factory,  was  regularly  exposed  to  large  quantities  of  asbestos  dust,  which  he  inhaled.  The  claimant’s  role  involved  working  with  steam  locomotives.  

These  train  locomotives  were  brought  into  stripping  sheds  where  laggers  stripped  them  of  asbestos.    The  claimant  worked  closely  alongside  men  who  were  cutting  up  asbestos  sheets  which  were  used  to  line  the  back  plates  and  boilers  of  the  steam  locomotives.    He  had  to  climb  up  and  over  the  steam  locomotive  boilers  and  fix  asbestos  lagging  onto  the  locomotive  boilers  by  strapping  it  into  place,  as  well  as  

July 2015

www.ts-­‐p.co.uk   2    

Industrial disease – case summary

Continued

handling  and  positioning  asbestos-­‐lined  back  plates.  

Asbestos  dust  generated  during  these  various  processes,  settled  in  the  claimant's  hair  and  on  his  work  clothes  which  he  shook  out  after  each  day's  work.    As  a  result  of  this  exposure,  the  claimant  unfortunately  developed  mesothelioma  cancer.  

Thomson  Snell  &  Passmore  LLP  was  able  to  obtain  a  substantial  settlement  for  our  client  as  a  result  of  the  pain,  suffering  and  loss  he  sustained.  

How  we  can  help  

We  have  exceptional  and  unique  experience  in  dealing  with  many  successful  claims  for  compensation  for  asbestos  related  diseases  (particularly  mesothelioma)  as  well  as  chemical  poisoning  claims.    We  have  clients  from  around  the  UK  although  the  majority  of  our  work  is  for  those  in  London,  the  South  East  and  Kent.      We  do  not  act  for  Defendants.      Getting  the  right  care  

If  you  or  someone  you  know  has  been  diagnosed  with  Mesothelioma  you  may  find  our  care  guide  a  useful  at  this  difficult  time.    

   Jonathan  Herbert  Legal  Executive  Senior  Associate  01892  701226  jonathan.herbert@ts-­‐p.co.uk  

Oliver  Chapman  Associate  01892  701234  oliver.chapman@ts-­‐p.co.uk      ©  Thomson  Snell  &  Passmore  LLP