Margaret Cornhill, widow of Dennis, has spent two years trying to find out why her husband Dennis died from asbestos-related cancer. Mr Cornhill died in June 2013 after contracting mesothelioma, the asbestos-related cancer. Mr Cornhill worked for nearly 30 years at a paper factory in Aylesford, Kent. He was employed by Reed Paper Mill until the early 1980s.
The key issue in this case is trying to work out how he contracted the disease, and Mrs Cornhill believes that his work at the mill is key to the problem, and that he must have contracted the disease there. Mr Cornhill worked at the mill as a truck driver during the later years of his employment at the mill, but it is believed that he did other roles during the course of his emhangingployment.
If you have any information relating to this case, in particular how Mr Cornhill may have been exposed to asbestos, please contact Caroline Pinfold, who is solicitor to Mrs Cornhill and helping with the investigation.
This story is reported in today's Kent Messenger.
Further information about asbestos:
Asbestos was extensively used as a building material in the UK from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s. It was used for a variety of purposes and was ideal for fireproofing and insulation. Any building built before 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) can contain asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when materials are damaged.
Some of the more common uses of asbestos in buildings include:
If you have any information relating to this case, in particular how Mr Cornhill may have been exposed to asbestos, please contact Caroline Pinfold, who is solicitor to Mrs Cornhill and helping with the investigation.
This story is reported in today's Kent Messenger.
Further information about asbestos:
Asbestos was extensively used as a building material in the UK from the 1950s through to the mid-1980s. It was used for a variety of purposes and was ideal for fireproofing and insulation. Any building built before 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) can contain asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when materials are damaged.
Some of the more common uses of asbestos in buildings include:
- Sprayed coating: asbestos is found as fire protection on structural supports like columns and beams. It is a high hazard asbestos product and can generate very high fibre levels if disturbed.
- Pipe Insulation: asbestos thermal pipe lagging is a high hazard asbestos product.
- Asbestos insulating board (also referred to as AIB) ceiling and door panels: AIB is a high hazard asbestos product and can generate high levels of fibres if the board is cut or drilled.
- AIB window panel: like other AIB, this is a high hazard asbestos product, and if in good condition should be left undisturbed.
- Floor tiles: vinyl (PVC) or thermoplastic tiles contain asbestos.
- Asbestos cement roof sheeting: asbestos cement sheeting is often found on industrial building roofs and walls.
- Textured decorative coating (such as Artex): textured coatings contain a small amount of asbestos. The asbestos is well bonded and fibres are not easily released. However, it is still an asbestos product, and as such, needs to be worked with safely.