THE family of a Scarborough repairman who died from exposure to asbestos have launched an appeal to trace his former colleagues.
Geoff Edmonds, 79, who worked for local engineering company Brogden and Wilson for almost 30 years, died from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma last year.
It is believed Mr Edmonds was exposed to asbestos dust and fibres while working for the heating and ventilation engineering company, which closed about 15 years ago.
It is understood that neither Mr Edmonds nor former workmates were informed of the dangers associated with asbestos.
Lawyers acting for his family now need to speak to his former colleagues to find out more about his work at the firm to support a claim for compensation by his widow.
His son Chris, 49, of Kingfisher Close in Crossgates, said: "It's important that anyone who worked with him or relations of those people contact our solicitors to gain further information about the asbestos exposure. We have information about where he worked and how he was exposed to asbestos but we need witnesses to verify that.
"Quite a few of my dad's apprentices could still be working.
"Some of the people who were working with him have passed away now. Some of them have died of a similar condition to my dad," he added.
Mr Edmonds, of Westway, was born in Scarborough and after leaving school went to work for Brogden and Wilson in Sussex Street in 1941.
At the firm he repaired and maintained boilers, radiators and pipework and left in 1969.
He then worked for a couple of smaller companies to do the same work before moving into the steel industry and retired aged 65 but later became ill.
Mr Edmonds leaves a widow Audrey and two other children Terence and June.
Marion Voss, from Thompsons Solicitors in Leeds, representing the family, said: "Mesothelioma is a terrible terminal illness caused by employers' disregard for their workers' lives.
"Asbestos related diseases will cause 10,000 deaths a year by 2010 and will be the biggest industrial killer of all time.
"It is vital we trace Geoff Edmonds' former colleagues, not because compensation can make up for his death but to ensure that those people who forced him to work in such deadly conditions pay for what they did."
Davey Hall, regional secretary for trade union Unite, which is working with the solicitors, added: "As part of our successful extended family service, we're pleased to be able to offer support to Mrs Edmonds and her family and hope this appeal is successful in tracing some of Mr Edmonds' former workmates.
"There are too many tragedies caused by negligent exposure to asbestos and we hope to be able to secure justice for another innocent victim."
Geoff Edmonds, 79, who worked for local engineering company Brogden and Wilson for almost 30 years, died from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma last year.
It is believed Mr Edmonds was exposed to asbestos dust and fibres while working for the heating and ventilation engineering company, which closed about 15 years ago.
It is understood that neither Mr Edmonds nor former workmates were informed of the dangers associated with asbestos.
Lawyers acting for his family now need to speak to his former colleagues to find out more about his work at the firm to support a claim for compensation by his widow.
His son Chris, 49, of Kingfisher Close in Crossgates, said: "It's important that anyone who worked with him or relations of those people contact our solicitors to gain further information about the asbestos exposure. We have information about where he worked and how he was exposed to asbestos but we need witnesses to verify that.
"Quite a few of my dad's apprentices could still be working.
"Some of the people who were working with him have passed away now. Some of them have died of a similar condition to my dad," he added.
Mr Edmonds, of Westway, was born in Scarborough and after leaving school went to work for Brogden and Wilson in Sussex Street in 1941.
At the firm he repaired and maintained boilers, radiators and pipework and left in 1969.
He then worked for a couple of smaller companies to do the same work before moving into the steel industry and retired aged 65 but later became ill.
Mr Edmonds leaves a widow Audrey and two other children Terence and June.
Marion Voss, from Thompsons Solicitors in Leeds, representing the family, said: "Mesothelioma is a terrible terminal illness caused by employers' disregard for their workers' lives.
"Asbestos related diseases will cause 10,000 deaths a year by 2010 and will be the biggest industrial killer of all time.
"It is vital we trace Geoff Edmonds' former colleagues, not because compensation can make up for his death but to ensure that those people who forced him to work in such deadly conditions pay for what they did."
Davey Hall, regional secretary for trade union Unite, which is working with the solicitors, added: "As part of our successful extended family service, we're pleased to be able to offer support to Mrs Edmonds and her family and hope this appeal is successful in tracing some of Mr Edmonds' former workmates.
"There are too many tragedies caused by negligent exposure to asbestos and we hope to be able to secure justice for another innocent victim."
This article was originally published by Paul Derrick at scarborougheveningnews
on February 14, 2008
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