Asbestos-coated clothes linked to pensioner's death

The threat of asbestos on our health extends well beyond the workplace and can impact friends and relatives too. A case in point is 73-year old Pamela Hindry, who died in February. The cause: a malignant mesothelioma.

The reason she developed the cancerous tumour is unclear, but there is a strong link to asbestos. At 15 she worked in a furniture workshop that had asbestos-lagged pipes, but that isn't her main point of contact with the dangerous substance.

For years, Pamela would wash her husband's work clothes. He worked in a timber yard that also had him handling asbestos sheeting on a regular basis. The clothes were therefore regularly coated in asbestos dust, which Pamela would come into contact with. She explained before her death that the overalls were always coated in dust when she shook them.

Unfortunately for Pamela's family, the judge in her case gave an open verdict, which means they cannot claim compensation. But this should act as a clear reminder how much of a threat asbestos still poses and how easily it can be transported and spread by those who aren't trained to handle and contain it.

It's imperative asbestos training is given to all those who come into contact with it. That is why at C&D Consultancy we run a very popular Asbestos Awareness course, which advises all attendees on the dangers of asbestos, where it might be found, and what to do in case of exposure.

Please get in touch if you would like to know more about this or any of the courses we offer.

Source: getwokingham