Asbestos makers sued

Nerang man attributes shorter life, pain to work

A GOLD Coast retiree who says he just five years to live due to decades of working with asbestos has taken manufacturers to court.

Nerang man Terence Joseph O’Rourke is suing asbestos manufacturers Amaca Pty Ltd and Seltsam Pty Ltd for more than $739,000 after being diagnosed with lung cancer and a list of other lung problems, which it is alleged are due to long-term exposure to asbestos dust.

Documents filed in the Southport District Court claim the resulting health issues have left the 79-year-old with just five years to live.

A man of similar age would usually be expected to live for another 10 years.

Mr O’Rourke worked on the Townsville Regional Electricity Board from about 1956 to 1987 as a tradesman’s assistant to the electrical linesman, it is stated in court documents.

“(Mr O’Rourke) regularly handled, cut, rasped, sawed and drilled asbestos cement building materials manufactured by (Amaca and Seltsam),” it is alleged.

Mr O’Rourke also used asbestos materials made by the two manufacturers to build his home in the Townsville suburb of Deeragun, it is claimed in the court documents.

“As a consequence of his employment and residential construction, (Mr O’Rourke) was exposed to an inhaled asbestos dust and fibre and has contracted lung cancer, asbestosis, asbestos-related pleural thickening, asbestos-related pleural disease and bilateral calcified asbestos-related pleural plaques,” it is alleged.

Mr O’Rourke claims in his court documents that Amaca and Seltsam knew there was a health risk associated with asbestos, but still did not withdraw the products from sale or add warnings about handling the products.

It is also alleged the two manufacturers did not do adequate research into the longterm health effects of asbestos and asbestos dust.

It is alleged in the court documents the resulting health problems from the asbestos exposure mean Mr O’Rourke will “suffer increasing symptoms as his asbestos conditions worsen over the remainder of his lifetime”.

As well as a decreased life expectancy, Mr O’Rourke claims he is in pain and discomfort and in need of assistance from a carer.

Amaca and Seltsam have yet to file a response to Mr O’Rourke’s claims.