Lawyers acting on behalf of a former Hull City Council worker who has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer are urgently appealing for witnesses who may have vital information to come forward.
In 2024, the individual, who does not wish to be named, was diagnosed with mesothelioma - an incurable cancer caused by asbestos exposure, which often takes decades to develop.
Following her diagnosis, she instructed industrial disease experts at Thompsons Solicitors to investigate the circumstances of her asbestos exposure and determine whether more could have been done to protect her.
As part of the investigation, her legal team, led by Charlie Bradley, is examining the time she spent working for the local authority, where she was employed for a significant portion of her career. She began as a temporary employee in 1999 and remained there until her retirement in 2014.
During her tenure, she worked across several council office buildings, starting at Essex House in Hull Old Town. In 2004, she relocated to Ainthorpe Primary School in Hull.
The building has since been demolished. Recalling her time at Ainthorpe, the worker says the office space had recently been converted from classrooms, and that there were still some dust sheets, building materials and equipment on the premises.
She says there had been no warnings or access restrictions in place for staff, and she would regularly pass through the sheeting to access a photocopier which belonged to school staff.
Charlie Bradley, an industrial disease lawyer at Thompsons, said: “This is an incredibly challenging time for our client, who is trying to cope with her diagnosis while undergoing treatments to manage her condition.
“We are now working to identify when and where she may have been exposed to asbestos, and we would like to speak to anyone who may have worked for the Council at around the same time, and who may be able to provide information about the working conditions.
“We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone who recalls the building works that took place at Ainthorpe Primary School, where our client spent much of her career before retiring in 2014.”
Anyone with information can contact Charlie Bradley at Thompsons Solicitors on 0113 205 6385, or via email at CharlieBradley@thompsons.law.
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