Asbestos Pleural Thickening claim win for mill worker

Corries asbestos claims team have won a pleural thickening claim for a wood machinist exposed to asbestos at a mill in Lancashire.

Read below about how we helped secure compensation .

Corries are national asbestos claim specialists. Call us FREE for a no obligation chat on 0800 083 7839

Asbestos pleural thickening- some background

Asbestos dust and fibre is a blight on the UK’s industrial background. With many uses and due to it’s fireproof and heat resistant qualities it was called “the magic mineral”.

Asbestos was used in many products and in particular in sheets used to line walls and ceilings and for roofing material Asbestos was also used in certain flooring. The qualities meant that if fire should occur then the safety of those inside buildings may be helped as they got out.

It was in handling and cutting asbestos sheets that our client Mr C was affected.

Our firm has great experience in dealing with such cases https://www.corries.co.uk/pleural-thickening-york/

Pleural Thickening – case facts

Mr C had worked as an apprentice and then qualified woodworking machinist at a mill in Lancashire from 1965 until he retired. In his work he handled asbestos sheets and cut these using a circular saw. The asbestos dust and fibres were would be spread into the air he breathed.

He started to notice problems with his breathing in 2021. Because of this various medical appointments followed but his diagnosis remained unclear.

In spite of the lack of clarity Mr C approached Corries. He saw our our national advert in 2025 and sought our help. We agreed to look into this.

What we did

Our team got Mr C’s records and went through his working life and exposure to asbestos. We aimed to clarify about his exposure to asbestos and what other causes of thickening could arise.

Secondly we looked into his medical history and his various chest x rays and scans. His treating doctors were not sure what was causing a thickening in the pleural area between his lung and his ribs.

Thickening of the pleura (the linings of the lung and the rib cage) can arise due to many causes. Organ failure, infection or reactions to mew medication or other medical treatment are amongst up to 20 possible causes.

Corries have a panel of the UK’s leading respiratory doctors and radiologists built up over 30 years of practice. We sought their advice.

The road to the end

The reports we organised supported a claim for asbestos related pleural thickening. Their opinion was that Mr C was 20% disabled. This meant he was breathless on walking uphill or climbing stairs or hurrying on level ground. He had small risks of developing the asbestos cancer called mesothelioma and his condition was broadly expected to change only slightly for the rest of his life.

Subsequently we put this to the defendants who are still trading. It seems that they could not trace who insured them over the years so were left to pay the claim themselves.

We worked with their appointed local solicitors and agreed a significant five figure settlement in a few short months.

Pleural Thickening case comment

Corries director and head of their asbestos claims team Howard Bonnett commented

“This was a pleasing case to get over the line. With so many potential causes of pleural thickening having good quality experts is essential. It was that evidence that left the defendants with no place to turn.

Importantly I would implore anyone who has had pleural thickening to question this with their doctors and to take legal advice. Whilst many cases may not stand up as compensation claims I am sure that many pleural thickening victims out there are not being signposted to help and support.

My firm will always talk to and try and help people in that position”

If know someone who has had pleural thickening or an effusion then give us a call FREE on 0800 083 7839.