Former Electrician’s Family Sues for £100,000

February 19, 2007 - The family of a Cumbria (England) man who died of lung disease after decades of asbestos exposure is suing the government for up to £100,000, reports the News & Star.

The sons of electrician Derrick Fisher are continuing with a lawsuit their father started before he died of mesothelioma at age 83.  The newspaper reports that Fisher’s death was just one of an estimated 160 from asbestos-related disease in the town of Cumbria since 2000.

When asked to describe their father’s work, sons Barry, Kevin, and Michael said that Mr. Fisher had occasion ally spoken about his exposure to asbestos and how workers would “get fibers lodged under their fingernails.”

Among the places he worked were the Workington steel works and the pits at Harrington, Lowca and Haig in west Cumbria – all places where he was exposed to the substance.

Throughout his years of employment, Fisher’s work included “cleaning arc chutes made of asbestos and installing electrics near where laggers were working, creating large amounts of asbestos dust,” said his sons. He was also involved in making the arc chutes, using a hacksaw to cut asbestos sheets.

Describing how his father deteriorated, Michael, a plumber, said: “He did not want that. This disease wasn’t his fault. It was not nice. He lost loads of weight. He was a strong man – a big man.”