Death related to asbestos exposure

2:54pm Monday 29th January 2007

A HEREFORD man died as a result of being exposed to asbestos while working for Cadbury's, an inquest heard.

Coroner David Halpern recorded a verdict of industrial exposure to asbestos on Robert Wilfred Dando, who died at St Michael's Hospice on September 11 last year.

Pathologist Dr Joe Segan said that the 73-year-old's death was a result of lung cancer and bronchial pneumonia, which was caused by mesothelioma - a type of cancer directly related to exposure to asbestos.

He said: "We took samples of Mr Dando's lungs for analysis and asbestos fibres were found.

"The exposure was likely to have happened in industrial circumstances and would not have occurred naturally."

Mr Dando, of Mostyn Street, Whitecross, worked for Cadbury's for over 30 years, starting as an apprentice and then working his way up to become a supervisor and then a manager.

His older brother, David Dando, was not present at the inquest but in a statement, he said: "Robert told me that he had been exposed to asbestos while working at a Cadbury factory in Ireland when he was supervising some building work.

"He said the site was covered in dust from asbestos cladding on pipe work."

A statement from Robert's widow stated her husband had also mentioned that asbestos had been present in the Leominster Cadbury factory when he worked there.

Coroner David Halpern said: "Often when we look back to find out when that exposure would have happened, many years have passed. In this case, we do have an indication of when and where it came about."

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