Operator suffering from incurable disease appeals for help in legal battle.
Leading UK construction new outlet The Construction Index is reporting that a former plant operator suffering from an incurable asbestos-related disease is appealing for former colleagues to help in his legal battle.
Kenneth Kell, from Allerton in Bradford, was diagnosed with pleural thickening, which is linked to asbestos exposure and causes the lining of the lungs to thicken resulting in serious breathing difficulties, in 2011.
The 52-year-old regularly worked as a machine operator and driver for Gomersall Demolition between 1979 and 1982. He recalls regularly coming into contact with asbestos dust while working for the company, knocking down various mills, garages and factories throughout West Yorkshire, including a Harvesters restaurant in Bradford.
Kell has now instructed specialist industrial disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell and together they are appealing for former colleagues to come forward with information about the working conditions at Gomersall Demolition and key information about the firm’s insurance company.
Nicola Handley, an industrial disease expert from Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office, said: “Pleural thickening is a serious illness which can be very distressing for victims like Kenny and their families. More than 2,000 people die from asbestos-related illnesses every year despite the fact employers knew how dangerous it was.
“Kenny wasn’t given any protective clothing or warned about the dangers of working with asbestos during his career. It is awful that he is now ill simply because he went to work every day. Kenny was aware of the fact that demolition work could be dangerous, particularly as two of his former colleagues have died following crushing accidents on site. However, he was never made aware of the dangers of the deadly asbestos dust.
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