£23,300 for Asbestos-Related Claim

A former pipe fitter who worked for Michelin Tyre plc has been awarded £23,300 in compensation after he developed a respiratory disease from exposure to asbestos in the workplace.

Roy Ibbs was employed by Michelin between 1969 and 1985, during which time the air at work was often filled with asbestos dust. He has since developed asbestosis, an inflammatory condition of the lungs caused by long-term or heavy exposure to asbestos, which leaves him short of breath. Because of his condition, Mr Ibbs is no longer able to play an active role in family life.

People who know they have been exposed to asbestos live with the fear that they are at risk of developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, which can take 40 years or so to develop. The outlook for those diagnosed with this virulent form of cancer is generally poor because the disease is usually far advanced by the time symptoms appear.

When his claim against his former employer was brought, the judge found that Mr Ibbs had been exposed to asbestos whilst carrying out maintenance work on pipes lagged with the deadly substance.

Mr Ibbs was offered £20,000 to settle the matter out of court but decided to proceed with his claim. In court, Michelin argued that the level of compensation should be set at around £12,000, but on hearing the evidence the judge awarded Mr Ibbs £23,300.

The HSE website contains information on the law relating to managing and working with asbestos.