An inquest has heard how the victim of asbestos-related cancer believed she was exposed to asbestos in her childhood as her father worked for Harland and Wolff shipyard.

Anne Webb died of mesothelioma in August 2022. In a statement she made after she was diagnosed, she stated that she believed she was exposed to asbestos dust and particles through her father’s work clothes. As a child, Mrs Webb recalled her father coming home from his work at Harland & Wolff shipyard with dust on his overalls which he would shake off at the back door. Mrs Webb recalled sweeping up the dust from his clothes.

Mesothelioma is a devastating type of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. In many cases, exposure to asbestos occurs in the workplace, where the material was commonly used in construction and manufacturing processes.

Asbestos fibres can be easily transported outside of the workplace on the clothes, skin and hair of workers who have been exposed to the material.   This secondary exposure is not uncommon and can have serious health consequences for individuals who have not directly worked with asbestos.

At the inquest into Mrs Webb’s death, the coroner concluded “She believed that her late father brought asbestos into the family home on his work overalls and she was thus exposed. The medical evidence is that this exposure would have been enough to cause the development of mesothelioma, or to contribute to the risk that she would get it.”

Individuals who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma have a right to seek compensation.    

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as you have been diagnosed.   Our Litigation team can provide specialist legal advice, backed by many years of experience in supporting victims of asbestos and mesothelioma and their families. 

For further information or for a free, no obligation discussion please contact us on 028 9024 3901 , email info@fhanna.co.uk or contact us online using the contact us form.