A look back at the River Tyne’s shipbuilding past – a proud tradition not without its dangers
A STEADY JOB BUT NOT A SAFE JOB
WHY ARE THESE ILLNESSES STILL BEING DIAGNOSED TODAY?
It is difficult to imagine the River Tyne crammed with boats and ships all plying their trade. Today, when a large vessel enters the river, large crowds assemble to see this rare sight.
Shipbuilding on the Tyne has a huge heritage. Along the river, the yards like Palmers and Redhead, employed generations of families and brought wealth and fame to the region.
For more than two centuries, the yards of the Tyne turned out huge numbers of vessels, from great warships such as Ark Royal to liners such as Mauretania, plus tankers and cargo ships for the world’s commercial fleets.
There were also the allied industries, such as ship repairers, marine engineers and ships’ outfitters. Shipbuilding had an enormous influence locally in demand for engines, boilers, deck machinery such as winches, windlasses and cranes, made by companies such as Clarke Chapman of Gateshead, and nautical instruments from firms such as Sunderland’s James Morton & Co.
The ships built here sailed the world, taking the great engineering feats and proud craftsmanship with them for all to admire.
Unfortunately, occupation such as shipbuilding are associated with an elevated risk of asbestos exposure.
Workers in the yards of the Tyne came in contact with dangerous levels of asbestos, increasing their chances of developing diseases like asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis and pleural thickening.
We have made improvements since asbestos was heavily used in the shipyards, construction industry, manufacturing industries and other industries.
Thanks to research, regulations are now in place to prevent workers from exposure to this deadly substance.
Asbestos was a common material used in the construction of ships until the late 1970’s because it possessed excellent heat and fire resistance properties.
Asbestos could be found in the engine and boiler rooms, as well as in the walls, floors and ceilings of rooms such as the sleeping quarters and the galleys of ships.
Shipbuilders and those who served on military vessels would commonly inhale airborne asbestos fibers while constructing or working aboard ships right up until the late 1970’s.
It wasn’t until the 1980’s that the UK introduced prohibition laws and banned the importing of asbestos into the UK.
Unfortunately, these illnesses are still very much a reality today as there can be a significant delay between working with, or being in close proximity to asbestos, and the development of any symptoms.
Symptoms can take more than 40 years to develop after initial contact, leaving behind a long and painful legacy which is still being felt today.
Most patients get diagnosed following a short period of ill health. They may initially think they have cold, flu or a chest virus, but when their symptoms don’t improve and they get referred for a chest x-ray, they are then diagnosed with an
WHY BEECHAM PEACOCK?
asbestos-related illness.
These illnesses can cause a number of potential health complications which can be severe and can unfortunately result in death.
Unfortunately there are many families in the UK – and a high percentage of these are in the North East – who have experienced asbestos-related deaths.
Fathers, grandparents, husbands and wives, all of whom have been exposed to asbestos while working in shipyards, the construction industry, factories or even public sector and office workers, who have been exposed to asbestos in their place of work.
More than 2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year – around seven every day. That figure is set to peak around 2020.
The North has the sixth highest incident rate of mesothelioma nationwide. A total of 60,000 people in the UK are expected to die of asbestos-related diseases in next 30 years.
People who have been exposed to asbestos through their work are at the highest risk of damage to their lungs. This includes shipyard workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, laggers, painters, builders, railway engineering and factories. You might also be at risk if you have lived with a worker who was exposed to asbestos.
For almost 70 years, Beecham Peacock solicitors has had a dedicated team of personal injury professionals with specialised expertise when it comes to dealing with asbestos-related diseases.
Whilst no amount of money will compensate for the damage to your health and wellbeing, the team will ensure that you and your family are given justice and remain financially secure, helping to cover the cost of past and future medical care.
The team are trusted by some of the largest trade unions in the country and work closely with asbestos support groups to provide the best results for families affected by asbestos diseases, never working for employers or insurance companies.
The North East has a heritage of shipbuilding, textiles and construction, and has seen a rise in the number of cases for asbestosis and mesothelioma in recent years.
Beecham Peacock solicitors have extensive experience of dealing with claims as a result of asbestos exposure. They also have a formidable reputation in handling clients with care and empathy to win the compensation they deserve.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with an asbestosrelated condition over the last three years, contact Victoria Wanless or David Dewar at Beecham Peacock on tel: 0191 232 3048.