A retired timber merchant who was exposed to asbestos dust and debris while working as a trainee has died from mesothelioma.

Charles Hepworth, of Prince William Way, Diss, spent his entire career working as a timber merchant. 

It was only during the early days of the 75-year-old's career that he was exposed to asbestos, Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard during an inquest into his death.

Years later, during the summer of 2022, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of being exposed to the fibres.

In a statement provided to the Norwich-based court, his wife, Glynis Hepworth, said: “Many years ago, as a young man, he was sent to various timber yards where he was training, and had to learn from the ground up.

“One of the timber yards where he was training used to cut up asbestos sheets. 

“I remember him saying they would sweep all of the dust up all night and there were big piles of asbestos sheets in the yard.”

The senior coroner for Norfolk, Jacqueline Lake, read an in-life statement from Mr Hepworth. 

She said: “Charles advised that as a young man as a trainee in a timber yard he would use a brush and shovel to sweep up the dust that was created. 

“Although timber was the main product that was machined and sold from the yard, corrugated asbestos roofing sheets and flat asbestos cement sheets were also supplied. 

“Charles was involved in the manual handling of the sheets which were brittle and broke easily. 

“This created a visible amount of airborne dust which was transferred to his hands and clothing, and this was also inhaled as there was no means of proper extraction or cleaning.” 

The primary medical cause of death was given as pleural mesothelioma. Mrs Lake recorded a conclusion of “industrial disease". 

Mr Hepworth died at home on April 13. 

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