Office workers at Smiths Dock faced similar asbestos risk as tradesmen
In her early 20s, Mary Trodden was employed as a wages clerk in the offices at Smiths Dock Shipbuilders in South Bank, North Yorkshire.
Her work was 90 per cent office based, but she occasionally visited other departments within the shipyard and docks to speak to employees with queries or problems with their wages and suchlike.
When Mary was diagnosed with mesothelioma some 55 years after she had left her employment at Smiths Dock, not unusually, she had no immediate recollection of any significant exposure to asbestos. But after attending a meeting with a mesothelioma support group, she was introduced to Bridget Collier, who discussed at length with Mary her background and her employment history.
Bridget discounted most of Mary’s previous periods of employment but was very concerned about her position and duties at Smith’s Dock. Bridget asked Mary to detail, as far as she could recollect, her role as a wages clerk and the trips that she made to other departments within the shipyard.
It transpired that the yard that Mary crossed every time she left the office to visit these departments was particularly dusty, due to open bags of raw asbestos and asbestos board piled everywhere. It was particularly bad when it was windy.
Mary’s brother-in-law, who was employed as a shipwright in the yard, helped to prompt Mary’s memories as he had regularly seen Mary walking from one department to another and between workers who were openly cutting the asbestos without any containment or protection. He also remembers the open piles of asbestos, only loosely covered with tarpaulin sheets.
Mary remembered her shoes getting quite dusty from ‘scuffing it up’ as she walked or, at times, even ran, as dodged asbestos 'snowballs' thrown at her in jest. When she did get to her various destinations, the workmen totally disregarded her and just carried on with their jobs, but she was always aware of them cutting asbestos board, or mixing powder, around her while she spoke to other workers.
Mary’s husband Gerald also worked at Smith’s Dock, which is where they met, but his job was office based and he didn’t venture out into the yard. He does, however, recall that his eldest brother, James, had served an apprenticeship and had been employed in the yard.
James was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1970, following an X-ray for a minor shoulder injury. As a joiner, James worked regularly with asbestos and he died within 6 months of his diagnosis.
The Department for Business Energy and Industry Strategy took on the liabilities for Smiths Dock and so dealt with the claim. They have dealt with many cases of mesothelioma involving Smiths Dock, but they still pushed for evidence on Mary’s case and unlocking the memories was a key to securing their accountability for Mary.
Bridget disclosed the evidence and secured an admission of liability in time to confirm this with Mary, but sadly the defendants settled the case only after her death.
Mary took great care of both her own and her family’s health throughout her life and it was a tragedy that this insidious disease robbed her of what should have been a fit, active and happy old age enjoyed with her family.
As is often the case just like Mary, people's lives have moved on considerably from when they were exposed to asbestos and it's hard for them to remember it immediately. This is where a specialist solicitor can help, having dealt regularly with similar situations.
Contact us
For further information about asbestos and mesothelioma claims, please call Bridget Collier on 0330 460 6740 or email bridget.collier@fieldfisher.com.
Alternatively
- You can speak to our asbestos disease lawyers on freephone 0800 358 3848
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