Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

CancerHealth and safetyLatest NewsRespiratory

AkzoNobel agrees payout for 1960s asbestos exposure

by Ashleigh Webber 13 Feb 2024
by Ashleigh Webber 13 Feb 2024 The man came in contact with asbestos while working for a company now owned by Akzo Nobel
J Poulssen / Alamy Stock Photo
The man came in contact with asbestos while working for a company now owned by Akzo Nobel
J Poulssen / Alamy Stock Photo

AkzoNobel has agreed a six-figure settlement with a former worker who claimed he was exposed to asbestos while working as an apprentice in the 1960s.

According to law firm Leigh Day, the man – referred to as Paul – worked in close proximity to asbestos-lagged pipes as an apprentice electrical fitter for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in Teesside, which was acquired by paint and coating giant AkzoNobel in 2008.

While working at the factory in Billingham between 1961 and 1966, Paul claimed to have seen other employees cut asbestos lagging with hacksaws, releasing dust into the air.

Asbestos

HSBC pays out £900k for asbestos exposure

Unions demand 40-year deadline for asbestos removal

He also worked in areas where the lagging was mixed – asbestos was allegedly tipped into a barrel and mixed with water to form a paste, which would then be applied to the pipework.

He said he was not given any protective breathing apparatus when he was asked to work near the asbestos, and would frequently have to climb over and crawl underneath the lagged pipes, exposing him to asbestos fibres as he rubbed against them.

Paul was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-linked cancer, in October 2022. It was discovered after Paul developed a cough, which he initially thought was Covid-19.

Mesothelioma can take decades to develop after an individual has been exposed to asbestos. Although asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999, it is still present in hundreds of thousands of buildings due to its widespread use.

Steven Dickens, a partner in Leigh Day’s asbestos claims team, said: “Mesothelioma is a devastating diagnosis to receive, particularly as it could have been avoided had Paul received protective respiratory equipment. While this harm cannot be undone, I am pleased that the settlement will help to make Paul comfortable for the remainder of his life and will support his wife and family.”

Paul’s settlement has not been disclosed. AkzoNobel has been contacted for comment.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today


Browse more human resources jobs

Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is a former editor of OHW+ and former HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support.

previous post
The Body Shop goes into administration
next post
Inflation unchanged at 4%

You may also like

Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments

20 May 2025

Warning of diabetes risk for workplace drivers

11 Apr 2025

Calls growing for UK national asbestos register

4 Apr 2025

Sexual harassment: Employees have the right to protection...

18 Mar 2025

One in seven NHS staff physically attacked last...

14 Mar 2025

HSE new guidance to protect against hospital nitrous...

10 Feb 2025

Two-step testing enabling more train drivers to work...

24 Jan 2025

HSE updates guidance on silicosis risk from installing...

10 Jan 2025

Workplaces urged to revisit and refresh first aid...

6 Jan 2025

Warning of ‘catastrophic’ rise in alcohol deaths in...

20 Dec 2024

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today