Deadly dust led to death of engineer, aged 66 - Derby Telegraph

A RETIRED engineer who worked in power stations all over the world died after being exposed to asbestos.

Gilbert Townes worked in Derby as well as managing projects in Australia, Portugal, Poland, South Africa and America, an inquest heard.

The 66-year-old from Allestree was exposed to the deadly dust, which would "whirl all over the power station flooring".

He died on June 2 of malignant mesothelioma of the pleura – an asbestos-related cancer affecting the lining of the lungs.

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Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court heard how Mr Gilbert, known as "Gil", left university in 1969 before taking part in a training programme as a graduate engineer in Coventry for two years.

He joined Alstom Power, in Sinfin Lane, as a project manager in 1980. He became engineering manager of the Derby operation in 2001.

He often visited boiler houses where projects were being carried out.

In a statement made before he died, Mr Townes, of Cavendish Avenue, said: "My role was primarily office-based.

"Some meetings would be inside or else on the job site to review progress.

"Although I would not be involved directly, the dust would whirl all over the power station flooring, equipment and hand rails.

"There was always a white-grey dust circling around."

He said the asbestos lagging in the boiler houses was "dusty and fibrous".

He would wear protective clothing, including a hat and overalls, but only when "conditions were particularly bad" would he wear a paper mask.

Mr Townes was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma last year.

Pathologist Andrew Hitchcock carried out a postmortem examination.

He said: "There was a very extensive tumour in the right chest wall extending into the lung tissue."

He said that, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Townes' cancer was as a result of his exposure to asbestos.

Assistant deputy coroner Paul McCandless recorded a verdict of death due to an industrial disease.