 Family of Oxford Railway Worker Awarded Damages After Asbestos Death
 Brigitte Chandler The family of a worker, who died as a result of his coming into contact with asbestos at the Great Western Oxford railway works, has been awarded substantial damages.
Dudley Maasz worked for Great Western Railways an engine cleaner and fireman between 1946 -1948. The family's solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of Wantage law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall and a specialist in asbestos claims, brought the claim against BRB (Residuary) Limited, the name given for British Rail.
British Rail have agreed to settle the claim out of court and pay £98,000 compensation to Mr Maasz's family.
"We were able to establish that Mr Maasz death was caused by asbestos during his employment at the Oxford works," says Brigitte Chandler. "Boilers of locomotives were coated with thick asbestos and asbestos was also used over the pipes and cylinders of the engines. As a cleaner and fireman, Mr Maasz would have been exposed to this."
After he left Great Western Railways, Mr Maasz worked at Oxford University Press in Walton Street and then for Morris Motors in Cowley. In 1980, he also worked for Oxford Post Office. There was no known asbestos exposure anywhere else.
"I have represented many families of railway workers who have died as a result of asbestos," says Brigitte Chandler. "It can take anything up to sixty years for the terrible consequences of asbestos exposure to become evident. Despite the time lag, it is always worth investigating these cases."
"Clearly, considerable asbestos was used by the railways and it is likely that others working with Mr Maasz were also exposed and may be at risk."
In 2005 Mr Maasz started complaining of a pain in his side and shoulder and was later diagnosed with mesothelioma, caused by asbestos exposure. He died in July 2006. British Rail also agreed to pay costs.
Swindon and South West Asbestos Group is a regional charity for the South West and has support groups and a free information service for asbestos sufferers and their families. They can be contacted at: PO Box 2729, Swindon, SN1 4ZW. Telephone: 01793 496395. Email: info@asbestosgroup.co.uk Website: www.asbestosgroup.co.uk
For more information contact Brigitte Chandler on 01793 511055 or
brigitte.chandler@clmlaw.co.uk
Brigitte Chandler (contact details):
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