Family of former UCATT president secure asbestos payout

John Flavin, a former president of the Union of Building, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT), died aged 78 in 2022 after being identified with asbestos associated lung most cancers – brought on by the asbestos publicity he skilled a long time beforehand engaged on website.

Legal professionals at Irwin Mitchell secured a settlement from three of Flavin’s former employers for his asbestos publicity which occurred within the Sixties and Seventies.

The defendants had been Raven Mount Providers Restricted (previously Higgs & Hill Ltd), Sir Robert McAlpine Restricted and Installations (Ealing) Restricted.

Flavin’s household confirmed the choice to coincide with Employees’ Memorial Day immediately.

Paul Ramsay, the specialist asbestos-related illness lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the household, mentioned: “John was not solely a much-loved household man but in addition revered all through the commerce union motion and devoted his life to enhancing employees’ rights. His expertise displays that of many development employees of his era who had been frequently uncovered to asbestos.

“Whereas we’re happy to have secured John’s family members with the solutions and justice they deserve, what occurred to John is a reminder of the devastating influence households may be left to face due to unsafe working practices.

“Using asbestos has been banned within the UK for extra 25 years however, the hazardous materials stays in lots of buildings and sadly we nonetheless see households dropping family members a long time after publicity.

“Asbestos continues to pose a really actual threat throughout the UK and Employees’ Memorial Day is a strong reminder of why consciousness and vigilance matter.”

Initially from Ballylongford, County Kerry, Eire, Flavin emigrated to London in 1963 and labored as a tunnel miner and scaffolder earlier than becoming a member of UCATT in 1967, celebrating 50 years of membership in 2017.

Throughout his position as a website labourer, he labored on main development tasks the place asbestos was sprayed onto metal and concrete frames. He additionally labored near laggers who blended asbestos.

He was identified with asbestos associated lung most cancers in September 2021 and had main chest surgical procedure the next month, together with a proper thoracotomy.

In early 2022, his situation deteriorated and he grew to become very weak and fatigued with vital weight reduction. He died 18 August 2022.

His spouse Mary mentioned: “John spent his life preventing for safer circumstances for development employees. It’s devastating that the risks he campaigned in opposition to finally took him from us.

“Asbestos remains to be an actual menace. Simply because publicity occurred years in the past doesn’t imply the implications are gone. For those who work in older buildings, please take each precaution.”