Did asbestos exposure kill ex- Ravenscraig welder?
THE grieving family of a former burner and welder who died from asbestos cancer are appealing to his former co- workers to help them establish how he developed the illness that claimed his life.
Father- of- three Jim Kennedy, from Hamilton in Lanarkshire, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs most commonly associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.
He died in December 2021, aged 82, just two months after being diagnosed with the disease.
Following Mr Kennedy’s death, his family instructed asbestos- related disease experts at Irwin Mitchell Scotland to investigate his illness and whether he could have been exposed to asbestos at work.
They are now joining with their legal team in appealing to Mr Kennedy’s former workmates for details on the conditions he may have faced while employed at Ravenscraig steelworks in Motherwell.
Mary- Jo McKenna, the lawyer at Irwin Mitchell Scotland representing Mr Kennedy’s loved ones, said: “Jim’s family have been left devastated after losing him to mesothelioma, which is a particularly unpleasant illness which often becomes apparent many years after coming into contact with asbestos.
“Christmas was a year since Jim passed, yet his loved ones are still left with questions and concerns over how he fell ill in the first place. “While there is nothing we can do to change what they’re going through, we’re determined to help them obtain the answers they deserve.
“We would therefore be grateful if
anyone who remembers working with Jim could come forward. Any detail could be vital to our investigation.”
Mr Kennedy began working at Ravenscraig initially as a burner, before becoming a welder in the early 1960s. His family believe he was exposed to asbestos while working at the steelworks.
His illness and death have been devastating for his wife, Fay, his children John, Anne and Jim, and his four grandchildren.
Mrs Kennedy said: “It was very quick between Jim being diagnosed and us losing him. It was such a huge shock and I was absolutely devastated.
“To this day, I still struggle to come to terms with his death. He was the best husband and was so good to me. I’m finding life incredibly tough without him.”
His son, John, said: “My father was always fit and active. He worked until he was 70. It was devastating to hear of his illness.
“When we were told that my father’s working conditions could have been to blame for his illness, it was very upsetting.
“However, getting some answers is the least we can do to honour his memory. We would be thankful if anyone with information on Ravenscraig could come forward. It would mean so much to us.”