Join our legal fight against old steel firm, urges grieving son
AMAN who lost his father to a condition believed to have been caught from working in a steelworks is urging people to sign up to group legal action being taken against the former British Steel firm.
Brian Smith’s father died in 1970 from coronary thrombosis, after years employed at the steelworks in Port Talbot, initially on the top of ovens, and then as a ‘wharf man’ helping to cool hot coke.
The 65-year-old, of Kenfig Hill, is one of many former employees, suffering from life-limiting and debilitating respiratory diseases, and their relatives joining group legal action against British Steel.
The group action comes after hundreds developed these conditions, which are alleged to have been caused by exposure to harmful fumes while working at coking plants in the immediate vicinity of the coke ovens.
The High Court has announced a deadline of February 23 next year for people to register with the group taking legal action.
Brian Smith, one of those signing up, said: “I lost my father when I was 18, and nothing is going to bring back the years I lost. He suffered from pleurisy and bronchitis, and worked for years as a wharf man, but wouldn’t have had the protection we would consider today. I know other people who used to work there who are still struggling, one has emphysema.
“There was no air quality there – all day you could smell the sulphur. I still wonder how many people living there suffer from respiratory problems. I’d urge anyone who thinks they have been affected to sign-up to this action quickly.”
The deadline to register set by the High Court this week follows its approval of a group litigation order (GLO) in January, presented by specialist industrial disease lawyers from Hugh James, based in Cardiff, and Irwin Mitchell.
The GLO was applied for after the firms were approached by more than 340 former coke oven workers suffering health problems related to their employment years ago. More than 50% lived in Wales. Insurers for British Steel have already admitted it was in breach of its duty owed to its employees from 1947 until appropriate respiratory protection was provided to the workforce. Since the High Court gave approval for the group claim in January 2017, more than 80 former workers in Wales have come forward to potentially join the group action, putting the total number of applicants in Wales at more than 200.
Lawyers are urging people affected to contact them before the deadline on February 23 to make sure they don’t miss out on access to justice.
Kathryn Singh, Partner and industrial disease specialist at Hugh James which is handling cases in Wales, said: “We urge anyone affected to contact us urgently for free advice and for their case to be considered before the closing date of the group register on February 23.”