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Raymond Newton, aged 69, of Buttermere Road, Farnworth, is suing his former employer for upto £200,000 after diagnosed with mesothelioma, a lethal lung disease caused by asbestos-exposure. The retired joiner had worked with G&J Seddon for 50 years. He joined the company as an apprentice and ended up his career as a foreman.
Newton usually used a handsaw to cut asbestos cement sheets for ceilings and the front of boilers. Also, he had to regularly cut, drill and fix asbestos ceiling tiles, fire check doors, flue liners and panelling during his job with G&J Seddon.
Mr Newton was diagnosed with mesothelioma last September. Mesothelioma is a tumor of the mesothelium, that can be benign (localized) or malignant (diffusely spread), and that is most commonly caused by the ingestion of asbestos particles. It generally appears decades after the exposure however, leaves patients with as little as nine months to live once they have been diagnosed.
The suit has been filed at the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court in London in which Newton claims that he inhaled large quantities of deadly asbestos dust released during his work. He is looking for a compensation of between £150,000 and £200,000 for damages.
The suit alleges that G&J Seddon, of Plodder Lane, Lever Edge, violated health regulations by failing to ensure adequate circulation of fresh air to make the workplace safe. Newton complains that he was not provided with approved respiratory equipment or protective clothing. Neither the company warn him about the risk of contracting asbestos-related diseases, nor ensured the floors, plant, apparatus and all internal surfaces were kept clean and free from dust and debris, he said.
Newton is due to undergo chemotherapy shortly.
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