Died From Asbestos Exposure

A CARLISLE painter and decorator allegedly exposed to asbestos at work died of a cancer related to the substance, an inquest heard.

Thomas Minns, of Nelson Street, died aged 83 last April of the condition Mesothelioma.
The inquest in Carlisle on Tuesday was told Mr Minns was diagnosed with the lung condition in October 2005.

Mr Minns, who had worked in the trade since leaving the army in 1947, worked from the former Carlisle depot of North West Electricity Board in James Street between 1970 and 1974.

Colleague David Mossop, of Blunt Street, Carlisle, told the inquest that the pair would work in “the bowels” of the building where crumbling asbestos lagged pipes.

He said: “Dust used to drop off. We had to sweep it up to paint.”

He said the painters at the depot drank their tea in the basement and stored materials there.
The depot site is now home to the Carlisle Enterprise Centre.

The inquest heard that tissue samples taken from Mr Minns’ lungs after his death showed traces of asbestos.

Mr Minns’ widow, Freda Minns, a retired care worker, and daughter Julie were in the inquest to hear North and West Cumbria Coroner John Taylor record a verdict of death by industrial disease.

Mr Taylor said: “It is recognised that you can be affected up to 40 years after you have inhaled the material.”

In a statement Ms Minns said: “My late husband’s death from Mesothelioma has been horrendous for the family. The result will help us to move forward.”

The family were represented by solicitor Lucy Proctor and are pursuing a legal claim against Mr Minns’ former employers, the North West Electricity Board, which is now United Utilities PLC.

This article was originally published at newsandstar
on News section on January 1, 2008