Asbestos responsible for decorator's death
A RETIRED painter and decorator died of a lung condition caused by asbestos exposure, an inquest has heard.
No evidence of asbestos was found in 74-year-old Brian Franklin’s lungs during a post mortem examination, but Greater Norfolk coroner William Armstrong said he was satisfied he had most likely died from an industrial disease.
Mr Franklin, of Nicholas Avenue, Clenchwarton, died on January 8 after developing lung problems around 12 months earlier, the inquest, held at Lynn County Court, heard on Thursday.
His son, Gary Franklin, said his father, originally from Northamptonshire, had decorated schools and worked on building sites containing asbestos during the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Armstrong also read a letter from Roy Hart, Mr Franklin’s former business partner, which said the pair had worked for long periods on building sites with asbestos, sometimes for up to three months.
Mr Hart’s letter said they had never been warned about the dangers of working with asbestos and had not been provided with any protective equipment.
A post mortem examination found Mr Franklin had died of bronchial pneumonia caused by mesothelioma, a type of cancer.
Mr Armstrong said a substantial percentage of mesthelioma cases arose from exposure to asbestos and, not withstanding the absence of asbestos during the post mortem, it was “more likely than not” Mr Franklin’s death was caused by working with the substance.
He recorded a verdict of death by industrial disease and expressed his sympathy to the family.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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