Daughters Awarded Compensation After Man Dies From Asbestos Exposure Many Years After Employer Stops Using Asbestos, Due To Failing To Properly Clean Site
The two daughters of a York man who died of mesothelioma, who are to remain anonymous following their court hearing today, are to receive compensation following their father’s death due to asbestos exposure at work, despite his employer stopping using the substance many years before.
Mr Leslie Kenneth Bailey, of Kensington Street, South Bank, York, died on 23 March 2003, aged 48, having been diagnosed as suffering from malignant mesothelioma in November 2002.
Mesothelioma can only be caused by exposure to asbestos and the substance remained at British Rail’s Holgate carriage works, where Mr Bailey worked as a vehicle builder between 1976 and 1980, years after the company stopped using it because the site was not properly cleaned.
Mr Bailey’s daughters, now aged 16 and 18, will receive an undisclosed amount of compensation.
Mr Bailey’s solicitor, Ron Thompson from the York office of national law firm Pattinson & Brewer, says: “British Rail clearly failed in its duty of care towards Mr Bailey and his family, hence the court’s ruling today of a specific amount of compensation for his daughters which will meet the costs of their care in his absence.
“At no time was he provided with any safety equipment and he was never warned about the dangers of asbestos.”
