Personal injury news - Dockers make asbestosis compensation claims

A man suffering from severe respiratory problems has joined a number of other individuals making asbestosis compensation claims against their former employer.

Mick Toomey, 70, believes he was exposed to asbestos during his 30-year career at Hull Docks and is prepared to take his former employer to court.

Mr Toomey remembers working with bags of asbestos at the docks which would sometime tear.

He said, "When the bags were being carried by forklifts they often split. It came down on us like snow.

"There were no gloves and there was nowhere to wash you hands. It was a dirty and dangerous place."

The former docker says his health has deteriorated severely in recent years and he has now become housebound as the result of needing oxygen 24 hours a day.

Mr Toomey's personal injury claim is one of 80 being taken on by York-based solicitors Ingrams.

A spokesperson from Ingrams said, "The facts are Mr Toomey was exposed to asbestos. We must now establish if he is suffering from an illness contracted through exposure to asbestos on the docks."

Asbestosis compensation claims are amongst the many cases being handled by personal injury solicitors who believe workers should to be compensated for putting their lives at risk everyday.