Appeal Launched After Asbestos Tragedy Claims Construction Worker's Life in London

The spouse of an ex-London construction employee, who passed away following an asbestos-linked illness diagnosis, is seeking insights from those who shared his workplace and might be aware of the exposure circumstances he encountered.

David Darby, aged 65, who initially hailed from Kings Cross but relocated to Mid-Wales later in his life, received a diagnosis of mesothelioma—a severe and untreatable form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure—in February 2022.

In spite of receiving treatment, Mr Darby's condition worsened, and he tragically passed away on October 5th, 2022.

After receiving his diagnosis and prior to passing away, he asked Thompsons Solicitors to look into seeking compensation due to his asbestos exposure. During conversations with his lawyers, he talked about his work history, mentioning his time at Kingwall Contracts Ltd, a firm known for its expertise in partitions.

Mr Darby remembered working on a project at BP Tower in Moorgate, London, from 1977 to 1981. During this period, he often went back to BP’s headquarters to fit custom-designed dividers. He subsequently informed his relatives that this task commonly entailed slicing and boring through asbestos sheets with inadequate shielding and little understanding of the potential risks involved.

His relatives are currently reaching out to ex-colleagues or anyone who might have been involved with comparable projects. They aim to gather more information regarding the handling of asbestos and the work environment during that period.

His widow, Susan Darby, stated: "The loss of David has been immensely challenging. He encountered something lethal just by carrying out his duties at work."

Susan is currently collaborating with experts in occupational diseases at Thompsons Solicitors. The legal group is especially interested in hearing from individuals who were present at BP Tower located in Moorgate during the period spanning 1977 to 1981. This includes those employed by Kingwall Contracts Ltd as well as workers for other subcontractors, should they remember details about the work conditions and the occurrence of asbestos exposure onsite.

Amanda Jones, the Head of Asbestos for the family and their solicitor at Thompsons, stated: "The family of Mr Darby wishes to connect with individuals who worked at the BP Tower and had exposure to asbestos, regardless of whether they were employed by Kingwall or another company. Specifically, we seek information from those who carried out partitioning or general construction activities at the location between the latter part of the 1970s and the early 1980s concerning potential asbestos usage."

Those who have details can get in touch with Amanda Jones at Thompsons Solicitors by calling 01554 779940 or through email at amandajones@thompsons.law .