Asbestos killed factory worker

10:31am Wednesday 7th November 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A PENSIONER died from asbestos-related cancer more than 40 years after working in a factory that stored the potentially deadly material in its basement.

An inquest heard that Dorothy Thornley, aged 68, of Bransdale Close, Lostock, worked for 10 years as a separator and cutter at the Porvic factory in Darcy Lever, starting in 1955.

Bolton Coroner's Court heard that she was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in 2005 and died at home on May 10 this year.

Her sister, who had worked at the same factory, died of the same disease two years ago.

Mrs Thornley's husband, George, said his wife did not work with asbestos, but it was stored in the building, under the canteen, for use at another factory in Little Lever.

Mr Thornley said his wife had not worked since leaving her job at the factory in the mid 1960s. He added that although she smoked about 10 cigarettes a day, she had kept in good health, until 2005.

Alan Walsh, the deputy coroner said: "I am satisfied from all the evidence I have heard that the underlying cause of the malignant mesothelioma was the industrial exposure during the period she spent in that factory. I conclude that Mrs Thornley died as the result of an industrial disease."