£300k compensation recovered for former power station worker diagnosed with mesothelioma

Jonathan Herbert, specialist industrial disease lawyer acting for Mr B successfully settled a claim to compensate him for his pain and suffering and financial losses due to the onset of mesothelioma caused by negligent exposure to asbestos dust when working as a mechanical fitter’s mate for the CEGB at Croydon A power station from 1966/7 to 1968/9 when he was aged about 18 to 20.

Asbestos was used extensively at Croydon A power station with teams of laggers employed for maintenance.  Mr B’s duties there involved maintenance of piping and associated components.  All pipes in the boiler house, where he spent most of his time, were lagged with asbestos.  As a mechanical fitter’s mate, it fell to Mr B to hack off old asbestos lagging from the pipework using hand tools and then to brush the metal clean afterwards.  This work released large quantities of asbestos dust into the atmosphere where it was circulated by hot currents of air.  Mr B also visited the basement  regularly where fresh lagging was prepared.  Asbestos dust settled Mr B’s clothing and in his hair.  No mask or other kind of protective equipment was provided for his use.

In February 2025, after being symptomatic for about 6 months, Mr B was diagnosed with mesothelioma.  He received immunotherapy, but unfortunately, he did not benefit from that and he was not considered well enough to undergo chemotherapy.

Mr B wanted his claim resolved during his lifetime to spare his wife from having to make a claim herself.  Accordingly, Jonathan prioritised this case, especially after expert evidence later confirmed a life expectancy of only 6 months.

A letter of claim was sent to the successors in title of the CEGB alleging negligent exposure to large quantities of asbestos dust on a daily basis.  They promptly admitted that Mr B’s exposure to asbestos dust occurred as a result of negligence.  Thereafter settlement negotiations concluded with an award to compensate Mr B for his pain and suffering and his past and future financial losses.

Jonathan Herbert specialises in industrial disease cases.  If you would like to ask him a question about a potential case, or if you have a general query about any personal injury, contact Jonathan at Thomson Snell & Passmore solicitors on 01892 701226 in confidence. We offer no win no fee agreements on the vast majority of our clinical negligence and personal injury cases.