Power stations work was likely cause of death

INQUEST HEARS 87-YEAR-OLD MAN HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS DUST

AN 87-YEAR-OLD man died following exposure to asbestos while working at power stations, an inquest has heard.

Derek Tebbitts was exposed to asbestos dust while working at power stations in the 1950s and 1960s and was offered no protective equipment, his family said.

Mr Tebbitts, of Chiltern Road, Swadlincote, suffered from lung conditions in his later years and died at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital on August 8, this year, the hearing was told.

He worked eight-hour shifts and his family said that in later years his breathing became more and more difficult and put limitations on his life.

An inquest into his death was held by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh on Wednesday, November 11.

It heard a written statement from Mr Tebbitts’ doctor who said he suffered from several conditions including heart disease, cerebral infarction, asbestos fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis and dementia.

He was admitted to hospital due to his pulmonary fibrosis, but medical professionals also told the inquest he was suffering from other conditions such as frailty, infection and “overload” – where there is too much fluid in the blood.

A written statement provided by a medical professional was read out at the inquest which concluded that asbestos exposure in the workplace was the likely cause of his death.

However, a consultant at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust, which runs Queen’s Hospital, said it could be unlikely that asbestos was a direct contribution.

But both Mr Tebbitts’ family and Mr Haigh noted that the consultant did not have Mr Tebbitts’ occupational history to hand.

Mr Haigh ruled that he had died from lung disease, adding: “On the balance of probability I believe that asbestos has played a major factor in his death and other conditions are contributory factors.”

He gave his death as occupational exposure to asbestos dust which makes significant contribution to his death.

He recorded a verdict that death was work related.