The sister of a man who died from mesothelioma is now seeking answers after she herself was diagnosed with the same asbestos-related cancer decades later.
Our specialist asbestos solicitors have been instructed by Janet Bloomfield, who has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Janet’s brother, Paul Bentley, sadly died from the same disease on 22 October 2016, aged 69. The family are now trying to understand how both siblings may have been exposed to asbestos fibres during childhood.
It is believed that their exposure may have arisen as a result of their father, Mr Eric Bentley’s, employment with Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (“ICI”).
[Photograph of Mr Eric Bently]
Mr Eric Bentley worked for ICI as an Inspecting Engineer from 1 November 1956 until his retirement on 2 April 1977. He was largely based at the family home in Coventry, where he worked from a home office, but his role required him to travel to various companies that had been contracted by ICI to manufacture engines or other equipment to the company’s technical specifications.
Our specialist asbestos team at are therefore issuing a public appeal for any information relating to Mr Eric Bentley, who worked for Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (ICI) between 1956 and 1977 as an Inspecting Engineer.
As part of his role, Mr Bentley attended a range of industrial companies and factory premises to inspect equipment being manufactured in accordance with ICI design specifications or blueprints. His role involved verifying that machinery and components met ICI’s required standards.
Janet understands that her father travelled to a number of different industrial locations across the Midlands region, including visits to a company in Wellingborough, although she believes he attended many different manufacturing sites during his career.
On some occasions during her childhood, particularly when she was not at school, Janet travelled with her father when he attended these work visits. She recalls accompanying him by car to factory sites, including visits to Wellingborough, where she would have been present in or around industrial environments while he carried out inspections.
During this period, asbestos was widely used in factories and industrial plants, particularly within pipe insulation, lagging, fireproofing materials and machinery components.
When Mr Bentley returned home from work, he would often still be wearing the same clothes he had worn during visits to factory sites. Janet recalls that his clothing was frequently dusty and dirty from the industrial environment he had attended.
These clothes were brought directly into the family home and handled as part of normal household life before being washed. At the time, the family had no knowledge of the risks posed by asbestos dust carried on workers’ clothing.
Janet also remembers helping her father with small administrative tasks connected with his work. For example, she would assist by placing stamps on envelopes sent to various companies, as he regularly corresponded with businesses involved in manufacturing equipment for ICI.
We are therefore seeking assistance from anyone who worked with or alongside Eric Bentley, or who has knowledge of the companies he may have visited while carrying out inspection work for Imperial Chemical Industries Limited during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone familiar with the industrial companies contracted by ICI, the inspection work carried out by ICI engineers, or the conditions within factories where such inspections took place, especially where asbestos-containing materials may have been present.
Phoebe Osborne, Legal Director in our asbestos team, comments:
“During this period, asbestos was widely used throughout industrial factories, particularly within pipe lagging, insulation and machinery. We are keen to trace anyone who recalls working with Eric Bentley, or who can provide insight into the factory environments he may have attended as part of his inspection work for ICI. Their evidence could be vital in helping Janet understand how she and her brother may have been exposed to asbestos during childhood.”
With our help, Janet Bloomfield and her family are asking anyone who worked for Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, or who has knowledge of the companies visited by ICI inspection engineers during this period, to come forward.
Any information, no matter how small, could help provide answers following Janet’s diagnosis and her brother Paul’s death.
