We are appealing for former colleagues of former Clerk of Works, Mr John Jones who worked at the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, who tragically passed away in 2023 as a result of asbestosis, a lung condition caused by exposure to asbestos.
Mr Jones worked at the University of Cambridge between 1980 until he retired age 60 due to ill health in 1993. As Clerk of Works, Mr Jones was present a time when asbestos was being removed from the University buildings, having been widely used in building construction and maintenance prior to the ban. Specifically, the old crumbly asbestos ARC shields were replaced, and new cables were run through crawl spaces and service ducts, necessitating ceiling tiles to be lifted.
John’s main responsibility was to run and organise the rewiring and modernisation of the electrics including getting rid of and disposing of all asbestos containing materials which posed a danger to employees and students at the University.
Surprisingly for many, asbestos was only fully banned in the UK in 1999 and following the ban, steps continue to be taken to remove or encapsulate asbestos in the built environment. There is still a long way to go, and the asbestos removal methods have also improved drastically since the 1980s.
John was based at the Department of Engineering on Mill Lane, but he worked across the sites, including within the old Whittle Laboratory, the Schofield Centre and in the boiler houses and sub-basements which were not routinely accessed. Other projects he was involved in ranged from changing fuses, general electrical work, drilling into false ceilings, installing trunking, and supervising asbestos removal works across the sites.
As part of a legal investigation, we are seeking anyone who may have worked alongside or interacted with John during their time at the University.
If you were employed at the Department of Engineering at Cambridge University in the 1980s or if you have any relevant information regarding the presence of asbestos or the asbestos removal works in his workplace, we would greatly appreciate your assistance.
Your recollections could play a crucial role in the ongoing case to establish the circumstances of asbestos exposure and hold accountable those responsible for the health and safety breaches that led to the suffering and death of this individual.
Mr Jones was a hands-on Clerk of Works who was exposed to asbestos fibres during their work at the Department of Engineering, where materials containing asbestos were commonly used in construction, insulation, and maintenance tasks. Asbestos exposure has long been associated with serious and often fatal health conditions, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. It is now well-documented that long-term exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing these life-threatening diseases, even decades after the initial exposure.
Sadly, John was diagnosed with asbestosis during the pandemic, a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres which was only confirmed after a post mortem and Inquest which took many months to conclude. Despite receiving medical care, his condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his untimely death. Asbestosis is a preventable condition, and the individual’s family and legal representatives are seeking justice in the form of compensation for the suffering endured and his loss of life.
As a matter of urgency, we are asking for any former colleagues, supervisors, asbestos removal contractors, or others with direct knowledge of the working environment in the Department of Engineering during the 1980s to come forward. Your recollections will help us to piece together the events and working conditions that led to John’s exposure to asbestos and the devastating consequences it had for the deceased.
