Industrial injury news

Widow awarded compensation for husband's industrial illness

A widow whose husband died from an industrial illness after being exposed to asbestos as a small child has been awarded compensation.

Barry Welch from Leicester is believed to have been exposed to asbestos as a young boy when he would sit on his stepfather's knee after he returned home from work.

His stepfather, Roger Bugby, was employed as a scaffolder at the Kingsnorth Power Station in Kent from 1977 to 1979 and was in regular contact with the asbestos materials.

After Mr Welch was diagnosed with mesothelioma in May 2004, he contacted a personal injury solicitor and decided to make a compensation claim against his stepfather's former employer, Palmers Limited.

Although he died 11 months later at the age of 32, his wife, Claire, persevered with the asbestos claim on his behalf and was recently awarded a disclosed amount of work injury compensation.

Personal injury solicitors, Irwin Mitchell, reinforced the fact that Mr Welch had developed the industrial illness after inhaling asbestos dust from his stepfather's work clothes.

Irwin Mitchell solicitors said, "This exposure as a child led to Barry contracting mesothelioma in later life."

Mrs Welch added, "No amount of compensation can make up for the loss of Barry. However, he would have been pleased that we successfully fought for justice on his behalf.