Asbestos Victim's Family Sues the Government
A Cumbrian man's family is suing the government for £100,000.
Derrick Fisher, an Electrician who died at the age of 83 in February 2005 after decades of exposure to asbestos, had started the legal proceedings much before his death. His three sons are now continuing the fight in order to highlight the pains of many others like Derrick.
Derrick had been diagnosed with mesothelioma before his death. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer symptoms of which can be found in the linings of the lungs and abdomen. The symptomes may not appear for decades after exposure. It often kills more than half of its victims within seven months of diagnosis.
The lawyers of Derrick's family claim damages of between £50,000 and £100,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry. The papers have been lodged at the High Court in London.
Department of Trade and Industry is being sued as they are the successors of the National Coal Board. According to the claims in the documents, the board was not only negligent on a string of counts, but they failed to ventilate Mr Fisher’s workplace also. Niether they safely removed asbestos, nor he was provided with any protective breathing apparatus. They also argue that Derrick was not cautioned regarding the hazards of asbestos exposure.
Before his death, Mr Fisher had oddly spoken about his exposure to asbestos and how workers would get asbestos fibres boarded under their fingernails.
Workington steel works and the pits at Harrington, Lowca and Haig in west Cumbria were some of the places he had worked. He was exposed to the malignant substance everywhere. He retired from job when he was 62. A cancerous lump was found in his mouth when he was 79. Though this was removed, he started becoming short of breath afterwards. Later tests confirmed that he was suffering from mesothelioma caused due to the asbestos fibres in his lungs. He died of a pneumonia effected from mesothelioma when he was 83.
