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Lung disease sufferers win payout battle
TWO former workers at a city factory have won their eight-year battle for compensation after being exposed to dangerous dust in the workplace.
The men both worked in the melting department at Federal Mogul's Southwick factory and suffer from silicosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. The condition is debilitating and can lead to death.
The pair were exposed to the dust while working as furnace men for Hepworth and Grandage Ltd, later known as Federal Mogul (Sunderland) Limited, between the 1970s and late 1990s.
They had to wait years after Federal Mogul went into administration in 2001, freezing hundreds of compensation claims across the North East and the rest of the UK.
But they have now both received substantial compensation in an out-of-court settlement after claims against the company became "active" again last year.
The factory, which closed in 2002, made piston rings for the motor industry.
Raymond Minto, 59, from West Boldon, started work at the factory in 1969. His job involved stripping furnaces and relining them with silica mix.
He remembered the job as "filthy" and being surrounded by dust with just a rubber mask, gloves and ear defenders for protection.
He said the company stores would often run out of replacement filters for the masks.
Raymond, who has two children and two grandchildren, first noticed problems with his chest in 1986 but was not diagnosed with silicosis until 1998.
He took voluntary redundancy in 2000, blaming ill health, and has been unable to work since.
"Silicosis has affected my life," he said.
"I will never work again and there are now limitations to what I can do. I can still get about and do the gardening but everything takes me longer.
"It has been a long wait for this compensation. It's a relief it's now settled. I know I will never work again and financially this is going to help me and my family."
The second man, from Silksworth in Sunderland, who does not wish to be named, also worked as a furnace man from 1970 to 1999 and was forced to take early retirement at 52.
Now 60, he said it had been a long frustrating wait for compensation: "I first became ill when my lung collapsed and I was shocked to find out I had this disease.
"However, I knew straight away that my work had caused it.
"When the company went into administration I thought I would never get any compensation from them.
"It was a great relief to finally find out we had won."
Both cases were supported by the trade union, Unite.
General Secretary Derek Simpson said: "I'm pleased that our members are now at the end of an eight-year wait for compensation.
"Those with compensation claims against Federal Mogul have been in limbo for a number of years but the light is finally at the end of the tunnel for those exposed to dangerous substances while working for the company."
Andrew Venn, of Thompsons Solicitors, said: "Federal Mogul exposed hundreds of workers in the North East to dangerous substances including asbestos and silica.
"For many years these claims were frozen by the Court. However, with the support of the union we are now obtaining compensation for many families who have been harmed by Federal Mogul's negligent working practices in the past."
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