Over 30 years of exposure to asbestos kills Cam men (From Gazette Series)

Over 30 years of exposure to asbestos kills Cam men

TWO Cam men have died of asbestos poisoning after years of working in hazardous conditions. Both worked in the construction industry and both suffered lung tumours after being exposed to dangerous substances for more than three decades. The Gazette reports on the inquests into their deaths.

SIXTY-YEAR-OLD Cam builder Rodney Milliner died from industrial disease after being exposed to asbestos during the course of his work, a coroner has ruled.

Mr Milliner of Stoneleigh died at his home on August 3 this year from malignant mesolthelioma - a fatal tumour almost always caused by contact with asbestos during the 60s and 70s before it was banned.

Mr Milliner's wife Carmen told the court last Thursday that her husband was born in Stinchcombe and had worked at various places in his life that put him in contact with asbestos.

In particular he had worked for Chappell and Dix as a site foreman. "There was no safety equipment," she said. "When he came home his clothes were covered in dust.

In January this year a biopsy confirmed that he was suffering from a lung tumour.

Pathologist Dr Jeremy Uff found that there were nearly 250,000 "coated" asbestos fibres in Mr Milliner's lungs - when the national average for a man his age who had not worked with the material is just 60,000. He said the amount proved Mr Milliner died from malignant mesothelioma.

He added that it might be as long as 30 years before the exposure finally proved fatal to people whose employment brought them near to asbestos.

Deputy Gloucestershire Coroner David Dooley said: "Malignant mesothelioma is only rarely found in people who have had no exposure to asbestos.

"Whilst it can be spontaneous there is a history of asbestos here which strongly favours the base cause being exposure during employment." Verdict: Industrial disease

CARPENTER Bernard Freeman died from long-term exposure to asbestos during the course of his work, an inquest has revealed.

Mr Freeman, 67, of Winterbotham Road, Cam died on July 20 at his home from malignant mesothelioma.

Before his death Mr Freeman made a statement to the court explaining his work history.

Between 1953 and 1974 he had done a variety of jobs involving the removal and even the sawing up of asbestos, he stated.

His first job was as an apprentice carpenter with H Hunt in Drybrook, Forest of Dean where he had to cut up sheets of asbestos.

Later he had worked with Dursley Rural District Council carrying out maintenance work on buildings, many of which were old and needed their asbestos roofing removed.

"There was no type of protective clothing or masks worn," he said. In October last year Mr Freeman was diagnosed with the cancer after complaining of chest pains, but his condition deteriorated rapidly.

Pathologist Dr Jeremy Uff confirmed that the amount of asbestos fibre found in Mr Freeman's lungs was six times the average level in men who had not worked with the dangerous substance.

He confirmed the cause of death was malignant mesothelioma. Deputy Gloucestershire Coroner David Dooley said: "I do consider that it is more probable than not that this gentleman died from exposure to asbestos during his working life."

Verdict: Industrial disease