Asbestos Plumbers Foe

An inquest in Eastbourne has heard that a plumber that was diagnosed with lung cancer just weeks before his death was exposed to asbestos during his career. As part of his routine jobs, George Byworth has worked on removing asbestos on commercial and industrial heating systems in his younger years. He confessed to his wife that the air at the time was ‘thick with asbestos dust’.

The 62 year old plumber had seen his GP in November 2006 with a pain in his lower back. After various examinations and scans he was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2007. Mr Byworth from Eastbourne has died in February 2007.

Pathologist examination has revealed a very large tumour which has spread around the lung causing it to collapse. In addition, fibres of asbestos were found in the lung.

Mrs Byworth told the inquest, "My husband was very fit and enjoyed good health only shortly before he died.

"When he was doing his apprenticeship in plumbing and heating in London in the old buildings, he told me they worked removing and installing boilers.

"He said they had to break all the asbestos off the boilers and the air used to be thick with dust."
Deputy coroner Joanna Pratt said she was satisfied Mr Byworth's cancer had been caused by exposure to asbestos.

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This page has been written with contributions from heating engineers from Oxfordshire and experienced heating engineers from Maida Vale. Several of the company's plumbers from Kent have worked on similar issues as well as some of our experienced plumbers from Sutton and our Edgware plumbing and heating engineers.

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