Substantial settlement for chemical factory worker exposed to asbestos by British manufacturing giant ICI

Alan Peacock was diagnosed with asbestosis, decades after being an apprentice at Billingham Manufacturing Plant in County Durham.

When Alan worked at the plant between 1957 and 1964 it was owned by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), which for much of its history was the largest manufacturer in Britain. 
 
At first, Alan worked as a messenger and then in 1958, started an apprenticeship as an instrument artificer. 

After completing his five-year apprenticeship, he stayed on at ICI for another year and shortly afterwards, emigrated to Australia, where he is now settled with his wife.
 
Evidence shows that Alan experienced extensive and heavy asbestos exposure during his time at ICI. Alan:

• Knocked old asbestos lagging off pipes and valves with a hammer and removed old asbestos from leaking glands
• Was provided with asbestos string to re-pack the glands 
  Worked near to laggers who mixed asbestos paste in a bucket and sawed asbestos sections to size, to insulate pipes
• Got covered in dust and had no protection from breathing in deadly asbestos fibres.

When Alan moved to Australia, he continued doing similar work and had further exposure to asbestos. 
 
In 2022, Alan noticed increasing breathlessness. He visited his doctor, underwent tests and was informed of his diagnosis with asbestosis, a serious lung condition caused by exposure to asbestos.
 
Alan was prescribed specialist medication to slow the progress of the illness and in 2024 started using oxygen to help him continue to enjoy his lifestyle. 
 
In early 2024, Alan instructed Daniel Easton from the asbestos team at law firm, Leigh Day, who worked with a specialist Australian firm to investigate and pursue Alan’s case.  
 
Leigh Day instructed a medical expert and occupational therapist in Australia to assess his illness and value his claim. 
 
Initially, ICI disputed the claim, but with his legal team, Alan took the case to the High Court in London. A judge approved an order saying the manufacturing giant exposed Alan to asbestos, breaching the Factories Act 1961. 
 
ICI continued to contest the claim, arguing that Alan had brought it too late. But following further negotiations, it agreed to a substantial financial settlement just a week before a trial was due to start. 
 
Partner and joint head of Leigh Day’s asbestos team, Daniel Easton said: 
 
“I am delighted to have achieved such a positive result for Alan and brought his claim to a successful conclusion. The compensation will mean he is supported in the future with any care and equipment needs so he and his wife can enjoy their retirement as they should do. 
 
“We see so many people who come to us decades after they were exposed to asbestos, but we are well used to dealing with these timescales and finding evidence of what happened all those years ago. 
 
“We also regularly deal with arguments that cases have been brought out of time. However, this is common in asbestos claims and for something that happened 50 years ago, a delay of a couple of years makes no difference. We are ready to take on these arguments and win.”