Derby painter killed by asbestos from sanding down ceilings
A PAINTER and decorator died from breathing in asbestos while working on textured ceilings.
Edwin Shardlow would get covered in dust containing deadly fibres while sanding down the surfaces, an inquest heard.
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Edwin Shardlow died from breathing in asbestos while working on textured ceilings
He was killed by an asbestos-related lung condition.
Today the Painting and Decorating Association described asbestos as the industry's "hidden killer" and said it was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of tradesmen every year.
And homeowners planning work on textured ceilings or walls in their own properties were urged to seek expert advice first if the decoration dated back from before the mid-1980s.
Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court heard how Mr Shardlow, 68, of Trowels Lane, Derby, was employed from 1959 to 1980 at a decorating firm and then worked for around 30 years as a painter for the NHS.
Mr Shardlow's brother, John, said it was believed that Edwin was exposed to asbestos while creating textured ceilings during his work with the decorating company.
"They put it on one day, then would go back the following day and smooth it down and get totally covered in dust," he said.
"They didn't wear protective clothing. He was not exposed every day but fairly regularly."
The inquest heard that some of the materials used to create decorative surface coatings on ceilings and walls were known to contain asbestos up to the mid-1980s.
Dr Gurprit Atwal, consultant histopathologist at Royal Derby Hospital, carried out a post-mortem examination on Mr Shardlow's body.
He told the inquest that Mr Shardlow had died of bronchial pneumonia brought about by asbestosis – a lung condition caused by exposure to asbestos.
"There was a single pleural plaque in the lining of the chest wall, which is usually an indicator of exposure to asbestos," he said.
"Within the lungs there was severe scarring of the tissue.
"There was also evidence of bronchial pneumonia, which is a severe chest infection, and one single asbestos body was also found."
John Shardlow said it was only after his brother was diagnosed with scarring of the lung tissue in 2009 that he told his family about his deteriorating health.
"One night he told me that he had a breathing problem and said he was told that they could not do anything for him. He was a bachelor and a private person and I think he had been told two years before," he said.
Mr Shardlow was admitted to hospital in August 11 last year and died the following month.
Deputy coroner Louise Pinder recorded a verdict of death as a result of industrial disease.
After the inquest, the Painting and Decorating Association spelled out the extent of the health problems caused by asbestos to workers in its sector.
"Asbestos is the industry's hidden killer. Each week approximately 20 tradespeople die from asbestos- related diseases," said chief executive Neil Ogilvie.
And Joanne Gordon, co-ordinator at the Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team, warned that asbestos may still be present in homes with old textured walls and ceilings.
"People need to be aware that asbestos in textured ceilings can still be found in their homes and buildings. They should be careful when rubbing down or wanting to alter these ceilings – particularly if they do not know when it was put up," she said.
"If people are exposed, there is a risk that it could develop into an asbestos-related disease.
"If they are worried that their buildings, ceilings or walls contain asbestos, they need to get an assessment made by a licensed asbestos remover."
DISTURBING ASBESTOS MAY HARM HEALTH
CARE should be taken when disturbing materials in the home that could contain asbestos.
But the Health and Safety Executive said that householders doing small one-off jobs are at a lower risk than workers who regularly handle materials like old textured ceilings, asbestos-based insulation and lagging.
A spokesperson from the executive said: "The risk to health posed by a one-off small job in a domestic setting is extremely low."
The HSE website provides task sheets for the removal and handling of asbestos and recommends that if the job is on a larger scale and there is a higher risk of encountering asbestos-based materials then a licensed contractor should be called in.
The Health Protection Agency said that while undisturbed asbestos-based walls and ceilings pose little concern, once the material is disturbed it could pose a health risk.
A spokesperson from the HPA said: "Most asbestos products pose little risk if they are intact.
"However, if asbestos-containing products are damaged in some way, fibres may be released into the air and may be breathed in."
12 Comments
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by davenall
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:25PM
“Awareness of asbestos is very haphazard still. A couple of years back my energy company sent two men dressed in white protective suits with resperators to remove a twelve by twelve inch (ish) backing board to my electricity meter. I then had two more boffins turn up a few weeks later to do a site inspection. Great, taking it very seriously then, unfortuneately a few months earlier, the same energy company had fitted a new electricity meter, a man with an electric drill made holes in the asbestos to fit the new meter.”
by DETidiots
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 7:49PM
“Yet again we are reading in the 'Derby Telegraph' another report on an inquest into an asbestos related disease victim. There is hardly a week goes by without there being such an article in our local newspaper, such is the prevalence of asbestos related disease in Derbyshire.
It is sad that there is not enough information about asbestos in domestic premises, but it is a fact that most buildings, domestic, school or commercial, built during the 20th century, up to the late 1990's, contain asbestos.
Whilst it is generally correct to say that if it is not disturbed then it is safe, it is not entirely true, extremes of temperature can disturb asbestos fibres (but only in extreme cases).
It was generally thought that asbestos related diseases only struck at workers in heavy engineering and construction. We now know differently, office workers generally, people in educational occupations and light engineering roles are being diagnosed with asbestos diseases, the worst being mesothelioma. It is not just male's, we are now seeing more women being diagnosed. The numbers are increasing year on year. It is a sad fact that the UK has the highest rates of mesothelioma worldwide.
If you want to know more about asbestos in domestic premises then I recommend you try and get hold of the U.C.A.T.T. publication 'As Safe as Houses?', or go to the following link - https://http://tinyurl.com/7c6jbky a report by Dr Linda Waldman and Heather Williams commissioned for UCATT.
Can I draw your attention to two forthcoming events in Derby related to developing awareness to asbestos, first, on 29th February at the Derby Cathedral at 7:00 pm DAST will be illuminating the cathedral tower with an awareness message and the names of victims who have died of mesothelioma in the East Midlands; secondly, on Monday April 16th at the Spot Centre, Wilmot Street West, Derby, DAST, in conjunction with Asbestos Support West Midlands, will be holding a conference on 'Mesothelioma in the Midlands'. This will commence at 11:00 am.
If you wish to attend either of these two events then please contact DAST on 01246 380415 or email at mail@asbestossupport.co.uk (This is for refreshment ordering).
Dave Trigg.
Chair.
DAST.”
by janine2011
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 6:23PM
“Cheers eric, wasn't planning on removing it or sanding it down, I know how bad the ceilings are underneath it, I just have it repainted when the room gets redecorated.”
by davenall
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 6:21PM
“Something else I just thought of. In the 1939 Wizard of Oz film, there was a scene where it snowed. Judy Garland was covered in fake snow made from 100% industrial grade asbestos. It really is a mad world.”
by davenall
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 5:37PM
“I was a painter for Derby City Council in the late 70's and early 80's, before the risks from asbestos were known. As an apprentice and therefore general dogsbody, I often got the job of rubbing down guttering and downpipes with sandpaper ready for repainting. Many were made of asbestos, the surface of which was turned to dust by my sanding it. If you own an older house, it might be wise to check what your gutterings and downpipes are made from before doing any work on them. If my memory serves me well, I think a lot of houses around Mackworth in Derby have such watercourse wear. Another factor to be aware of if you are rubbing down an old painted surface, last painted before 1970 ish I think, is lead paint, usually used on metal, for example old radiators. If you rub it down, you turn it to lead dust and if you breath that in it will poison you.”
by eric9629
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 4:35PM
“Janine ,the artex only poses a problem if you try to remove it or rub it down. It is quite safe in its solid state in situ, no need to be concerned.”
by spondon
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 1:42PM
“Asbestos in all its forms is a cacinogen and can lead to cancer in several forms. Anyone who has been exposed however miniomally is at risk. Greater exposure to some forms of asbestos makes this a higher risk as does longer exposure. The number of deaths continues to rise as does the suffering of dependents. The only safe level is zero fibres.
Because asbestos is often mixed with another material, it's hard to know if you're working with it or not. But, if you work in a building built before the year 2000, it's likely that some parts of the building will contain asbestos.Textured coatings (often described as ARTEX) contain a small amount of asbestos. The asbestos is well bonded and fibres are not easily released. However, it is still an asbestos product, and as such, needs to be worked with safely.
For anyone who has concerns about asbestos in the workplace or home the link below gives access to the HSE/Asbestos web site. It answers most of the questions that contact with asbestos containing materials is likely to pose. Ir is not the DTs job to give out advice in this specialist subject but a link would have been a sensible thing to provide..
http://tinyurl.com/6rqylqy”
by janine2011
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 1:33PM
“Thanks for that information eric9629 it is very helpful as I had my ceilings artexed by a decorator in 1999 when I moved into my house as the ceilings had been covered with polystyrene ceiling tiles and were not suitable to paper or paint without replastering them.”
by eric9629
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 1:13PM
“Sorry artex before 1990 may contain asbestos !”
by eric9629
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 1:11PM
“Just had a new ceiling, the old one was artexed so a test was required, apparently artex before 1980 contained asbestos. A specialised team came to pull down the old ceiling all togged up in the gear, sealed the room & decontaminated the room .BE WARNED !”