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Asbestos deaths on the up - coroner

From the Bridgwater Mercury, first published Friday 26th Jan 2007.

A SOMERSET coroner has named two Sedgemoor industrial sites as part of a list of workplaces which have shared the blame for a sharp rise in asbestos-related deaths.

West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose, speaking at the inquest of 72-year-old Victor Deane, revealed that asbestos-disease mesothelioma was virtually unheard of in the area 20 years ago - but says he now deals with around 14 cases a year where it has proved fatal.

And during the Taunton hearing, he revealed that two Somerset sites are often the pinpointed as the source of the poisoning - the former Royal Ordnance factory at Puriton, and Hinkley Point Power Station.

Mr Rose heard that one-time Royal Marine Mr Deane, from Berrow, had been stationed in an asbestos mining town in Cyprus in 1955-56, he said he doubted that that had been the cause of Mr Deane's death.

Instead, it was suggested that a later career in oven manufacturing and an incident with a fire extinguisher may have been the cause.

Witnesses told the hearing that Mr Deane had used a fire extinguisher back in 2004 to put out a small electrical fire in his home. Fire officers apparently told him the old type of extinguisher he had used was "effective, but lethal".

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma two years ago.

Mr Rose said: "In the Navy, it used to be engineers and stokers (who suffered from asbestos) but never anyone else, let alone Royal Marines.

"Your normally enjoy very good health and then suddenly, when it's diagnosed, there's usually a period of about 12 months.

"It may be that the fire extinguisher generated the disease. I cannot say when he contracted it."

Mr Rose recorded a verdict that Mr Deane died of an industrial disease.

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