At Oliver & Co, we regularly assist clients who were exposed to asbestos while working in England or Wales but later moved abroad. Even if someone emigrates, if their original asbestos exposure happened here, they may still be able to pursue a legal claim through the courts of England and Wales.
Workplace Exposure in the UK
We recently acted for a man who developed mesothelioma many years after being exposed to asbestos as a young apprentice.
Between 1974 and 1978, he worked for Rosser & Russell Limited as a heating and ventilation apprentice. His work involved both new build projects and the refurbishment of existing sites.
Throughout this period, he was frequently exposed to asbestos insulation around pipework. Part of his job involved stripping away lagging so he could carry out repairs, a task that released large amounts of dust and fibres into the air. Sadly, his employer failed to provide any respiratory protection, despite the risks of asbestos already being well recognised at that time. This failure formed the basis of the negligence claim.
A New Life in New Zealand
In 1983, he emigrated to New Zealand, where he again encountered asbestos during employment between 1985 and 1987. A few years later, he changed career path and became a teacher. He loved his role and eventually became a respected school principal, leading an active life that included a passion for cycling.
