Asbestos-related deaths set to rise

11:27am Friday 18th July 2008

A CORONER warned that west Dorset is facing a rise in the number of people dying from mesothelioma, a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos.

He said he had dealt with ten deaths so far this year with two more coming up that were suspected to be mesothelioma.

The figures marked an ongoing rise in the disease. And he expected it to continue to increase in this area before reducing as the number of people who had been exposed to asbestos falls.

Mr Johnston said: "It is a growing issue. This area is likely to be particularly affected because of the former dockyards at Portland and the link with the Royal Navy. Many people also settled in this area after leaving the Navy."

He added: "Years ago I was usually told that there was no evidence of naval personnel being exposed to asbestos during service. But from the late 1980s that changed and it was accepted that anyone who served in ships in the merchant navy or Royal Navy would have been exposed to it."

He was speaking after an inquest in Dorchester into the death of Anthony Hamshaw, 67, who died at his home in Radipole Lane, Weymouth, in May after suffering from disseminated mesothelioma and pneumonia.

His evidence included a statement prepared by Mr Hamshaw after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Mr Hamshaw recalled that he was exposed to asbestos during his apprenticeship and after qualifying as an electrical engineer working for Dunlop Rubber at Erdington in Birmingham.

He often had to work in tunnels where steam and water pipes were lagged with asbestos and where the lagging often got knocked and damaged. He stated some tunnels were poorly ventilated.

He also worked close to boilers where pipework was lagged in asbestos.

Mr Hamshaw stated: "During the course of my employment at Dunlop I was never warned that asbestos was dangerous."

Mr Hamshaw joined the Royal Navy in 1963 and served for seven years. He later worked for a company that used a type of asbestos classed as safe.

Mr Johnston recorded a verdict that Mr Hamshaw died from an industrial disease.