Compensation for mesothelioma victim who worked for Thomas Ward shipbreakers

Mr H instructed Boyes Turner's industrial disease lawyers in September 2005 to pursue a claim for damages following a diagnosis of Mesothelioma.

He worked as a burner for Thomas Ward at a site in Grays in Essex and had been involved in the breaking up of ships. He worked as a part of a gang taking apart ships of different sizes, some of which would take two or three months to dismantle. He worked with the gang to remove the super structure and then worked down to the boiler rooms. It was in the boiler rooms especially that he was exposed to high levels of asbestos.

During the course of our research it transpired that the company was no longer in existence. We needed to approach a number of different potential successors in title before finding the correct company to pursue, and the relevant insurer.

Mr H sadly passed away in October 2006 before an insurer had been identified. We continued the claim on behalf of his son and daughter in law.

Mr H was involved in the taking apart of the boiler rooms where the pipe work leading into and out of the room was covered in asbestos lagging. The rooms would also have had asbestos panelling to ensure they were fire proof. Every vessel Mr H was involved in dismantling had a boiler room and asbestos was disturbed during the dismantling. He was exposed to high levels of asbestos throughout his period of employment.

The mesothelioma claim settled for £78k.

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