Widow of former Shell worker settles claim following husband's death from mesothelioma

The man, who we will refer to as Sam, worked for the Shell Stanlow Oil Refinery in Ellesmere Port for over 35 years. He initially worked as an office boy and then began working as a process operator.  

Later he was employed as a pump man, where he checked the machinery near to the furnaces that were lagged with asbestos.

In his time at Shell, Sam was exposed to substantial amounts of asbestos dust. He also removed asbestos lagging to reach pipes so that he could carry out his work. His employer did not provide any respiratory protection, or warnings about the risk of asbestos.

Sam was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer in 2022 and he died aged 81 in 2023.

Shell admitted liability and an interim payment was received in October 2024 without the need to take the case to court. The case was settled within two years, having been delayed by over nine months following Sam’s death whilst the coroner investigated.   

The settlement will help Sam’s widow with accessing care at home. Sam had been her primary carer, as she has heart problems, diabetes, and other health problems, and a large part of the settlement monies was to compensate Sam’s widow for the loss of his care and support. The settlement will allow her to access paid carers so that she can stay in her own home. 

Leigh Day asbestos partner Joanne Candlish represented Sam’s widow in her claim. She said:

“Mesothelioma is a horrible illness, caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Sam, as well as so many other Shell Stanlow employees at the time, were neither warned nor protected from asbestos exposure by their employers. I hope that the admission of liability from the defendant as well as the six-figure settlement goes some way towards providing a sense of justice for Sam’s widow, and that it will help her financially going forwards.

“Although this settlement can never make up for our client’s loss, I am hopeful that it will prevent her routine from changing as much. Sam’s widow faced the very real threat of ending up in a nursing home, following Sam’s death, and now she will have complete freedom of choice and can stay in her own home or move into sheltered accommodation with support of paid for carers.”