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A substantial compensation settlement has been achieved for a man who developed mesothelioma decades after being exposed to asbestos at work.
The man had worked as a lagger and metal cladder for several insulation companies during the 1970s. In his role, he regularly stripped asbestos insulation from pipework, often working in enclosed environments with poor ventilation. Despite the dangers of working with asbestos, he was not provided with suitable protective clothing.
In 2025, while visiting family in Australia, he began to feel unwell and was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer that most commonly affects the lining of the lungs and is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma has a long incubation period, with symptoms often appearing decades after the exposure that caused it.
After he took legal advice, his former employers' insurers were identified and a claim for damages was commenced. The insurers admitted liability and an interim payment of £50,000 was obtained.
A final settlement of his claim was subsequently agreed, whereby he will receive damages of £245,000, as well as the costs of any private medical treatment he needs.