Renée Raper was determined to find out how her mother was exposed to asbestos when she was diagnosed with the asbestos cancer, mesothelioma.
Renée’s mum Clarinda, known as Linda, worked as a personnel officer in a smelting works in Melton. It wasn’t until 30 years after she worked there that she was diagnosed with the asbestos-related cancer.
Linda, a grandmother of two, died aged 85, just six months after she was diagnosed with mesothelioma. She died not knowing how she had developed the disease.
Linda and her daughter turned to her union, Unite, to help understand how she was exposed to asbestos; they received free legal representation for their asbestos disease claim.
“My mother was a wonderful woman and she deserved better,” Renée said. “She worked hard all of her life and deserved to be kept safe by her employers while she did so. She knew it was dusty in her workplace but she died not knowing how or where she was exposed to asbestos.”
Thompsons has supported union members in asbestos disease claims since 1972 and helped Renée appeal for information on the working conditions at the factory.
One of Linda’s former colleagues confirmed she would have been exposed to asbestos through the daily contact she had with workers. Their overalls would be covered in asbestos dust when they would come into her office; Linda would have also been exposed while walking through the factory to get to the canteen.
Thompsons and Unite secured damages for Renée and, more importantly, helped her get the answers she needed about her mother’s death.
“I wanted to make sure I got the answers that she deserved,” Renée added. “I am proud that I was able to do that for her, but I’d urge anyone with mesothelioma symptoms to go get them checked urgently. Early diagnosis means better access to care and more time to get the answers you deserve in your lifetime.”
Pat Rafferty from Unite, said: “Unfortunately, despite asbestos being banned several decades ago, we speak to far too many members and their families, like Linda and Renée, whose lives have been torn apart by the impact of past asbestos exposure.
“We are proud to support them but urge anyone concerned they may have mesothelioma symptoms to get checked immediately.”