An 80-year-old shop owner from York, England, who lived and worked near the city’s carriage works but never worked directly with asbestos, has succumbed to malignant mesothelioma. A coroner’s inquest determined that Connie Spence probably developed the disease due to exposure to asbestos dust brought into her shop on the overalls of carriage works employees that frequented her shop.
Asbestos and asbestos products have long been associated with heavy industry in England and in other countries of the world. In particular, York Carriage Works employees have had a long history of asbestos exposure and many have died of malignant mesothelioma. Other industries in York, a seaside city that has long been known as a manufacturing center, also used asbestos and many now call the city an “asbestos time bomb.”
A recent article in The Press of York noted that Connie operated a shop near the York Carriage Works for decades, catering to men who would come into her establishment covered with a variety of dust and dirt from their work at the plant, which built railway cars. Blue asbestos, one of the most toxic forms of the mineral, was used regularly in the building of the coaches.
Employees in England, as well as in the United States, were rarely provided information about the dangers of working with asbestos nor were they provided with protective gear that would keep them from inhaling the toxic material. Former York Carriage Works employees reported an immense amount of dust, which would permeate the air and stick to their hair and clothing. Workers were not provided with showers or a change of clothes before leaving the facility. Hence, anyone they encountered between the shop and home may have been exposed to the hazardous dust.
Asbestos and asbestos products have long been associated with heavy industry in England and in other countries of the world. In particular, York Carriage Works employees have had a long history of asbestos exposure and many have died of malignant mesothelioma. Other industries in York, a seaside city that has long been known as a manufacturing center, also used asbestos and many now call the city an “asbestos time bomb.”
A recent article in The Press of York noted that Connie operated a shop near the York Carriage Works for decades, catering to men who would come into her establishment covered with a variety of dust and dirt from their work at the plant, which built railway cars. Blue asbestos, one of the most toxic forms of the mineral, was used regularly in the building of the coaches.
Employees in England, as well as in the United States, were rarely provided information about the dangers of working with asbestos nor were they provided with protective gear that would keep them from inhaling the toxic material. Former York Carriage Works employees reported an immense amount of dust, which would permeate the air and stick to their hair and clothing. Workers were not provided with showers or a change of clothes before leaving the facility. Hence, anyone they encountered between the shop and home may have been exposed to the hazardous dust.
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