Firm’s failure over as bestos dangers
COURT: A company that once owned Butlins admitted it did not protect an employee from the dangers of asbestos at a North Yorkshire site.
Rob Scarpelli, a retired handyman at Filey Butlins, which has now closed, took Hard Rock Cafe ( Edinburgh) Ltd to the High Court after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
A COMPANY that previously owned holiday camp Butlins has admitted it did not protect an employee from the known dangers of asbestos at a North Yorkshire site.
Rob Scarpelli, a retired handyman at the Filey Butlins, which has now closed, took Hard Rock Cafe ( Edinburgh) Ltd to the High Court after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer which often develops decades after exposure to asbestos.
Hard Rock Cafe ( Edinburgh) Ltd accepted that it was in breach of its duty of care to protect Mr Scarpelli and agreed to judgment against it due to Mr Scarpelli’s exposure to asbestos which took place when he worked at Butlins in the 1980s. The three Butlins camps still operating today are run by a different company.
Mr Scarpelli was originally a kitchen porter when he started work at Butlins in 1980 and he then became a handyman on the site. Part of Mr Scarpelli’s role included repairing locks and windows as well as leaking roofs in chalets. He said that he would often have to drill into walls which
would create dust. He also had to patch up holes in the chalet walls with what he believes to be asbestos insulation board.
Following his diagnosis in 2018, the 60- year- old father of three from Rotherham had a permanent tube fitted to drain fluid from his chest cavity.
He also underwent radical surgery to remove the lining of his right lung as well as a number of cycles of chemotherapy.
He said: “Although I was ill, nothing prepared me for when I was told I had mesothelioma. Before my diagnosis I’d not even heard of it but now I’m only too aware of how devastating it is.
“The last two years have been incredibly difficult. My cancer has had a huge impact on my life. I can’t do much at all. I’m in a lot of pain despite taking morphine and spend all of my time at home, mostly in bed. My life has just completely changed because of my illness. While I try and make the most of what time I have left, I’m worried about the future and what it will mean for my family. It’s also difficult not to be angry at what has happened, knowing my employer should have taken steps to protect me.”
Angela Davies, the legal expert at Irwin Mitchell representing Mr Scarpelli said: “Rob’s case vividly highlights the terrible legacy that asbestos has created. While some people may commonly associate asbestos with traditional, heavy industry, its use was widespread in public buildings such as schools, hospitals, banks and offices.”
The Yorkshire Post has approached Hard Rock Cafe ( Edinburgh) Ltd for comment.