Family of former electrician who was fatally exposed to asbestos at a Staffordshire Hospital wins settlement

A man who we will call Paul, worked as an electrician and works planner at Burton Hospital (now Queen’s Hospital) for nearly 40 years. He remembered disturbing asbestos when repairing the boilers at the hospital, as well as having to crawl through asbestos-lined service ducts to carry out repairs.  

Paul was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, in February 2019 and died in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Paul’s family instructed solicitors at law firm Leigh Day after his death.

Although the legal team did not have a statement from Paul detailing his asbestos exposure, they were able to piece together the work he undertook by thorough investigations and extensive research. This included finding evidence from another former employee who worked at the hospital and by documents located at archives.  

The evidence from the other employee confirmed that Paul would have been exposed to asbestos during the course of his work as he worked across the hospital premises.

The hospital admitted liability and settled the claim with a six-figure sum.

Senior associate solicitor Claire Spearpoint said:  

“I am very pleased that we were able to secure this settlement for our client’s family. His exposure to asbestos was entirely avoidable and, had precautions been taken, the risk of him contracting this aggressive, terminal cancer would have been vastly reduced.