THE Plymouth family of a worker who died as a result of his coming into contact with asbestos while working on the railways has been awarded substantial damages.

Dudley Maasz, who lived in Plymouth at the time of his death, worked for Great Western Railways as an engine cleaner and fireman between 1946 and 1948.

His two daughters, Lorraine Gaul of Yelverton and Ingrid Hanchett of Pebble Park Road, Plymouth decided to bring the case following their father's death.

The family’s solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of Wantage law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall and a specialist in asbestos claims, brought the claim against BRB (Residuary) Limited, the name given for British Rail.

British Rail have agreed to settle the claim out of court and pay £98,000 compensation to Mr Maasz's family.

“We were able to establish that Mr Maasz death was caused by asbestos during his employment at the Oxford works,” says Brigitte Chandler.

“Boilers of locomotives were coated with thick asbestos and asbestos was also used over the pipes and cylinders of the engines. As a cleaner and fireman, Mr Maasz would have been exposed to this."

After he left Great Western Railways, Mr Maasz worked at Oxford University Press in Walton Street and then for Morris Motors in Cowley.

In 1980, he also worked for Oxford Post Office. There was no known asbestos exposure anywhere else.

"I have represented many families of railway workers who have died as a result of asbestos," says Brigitte Chandler.

"It can take anything up to sixty years for the terrible consequences of asbestos exposure to become evident. Despite the time lag, it is always worth investigating these cases."

"Clearly, considerable asbestos was used by the railways and it is likely that others working with Mr Maasz were also exposed and may be at risk."

In 2005 Mr Maasz started complaining of a pain in his side and shoulder and was later diagnosed with mesothelioma, caused by asbestos exposure. He died in July 2006. British Rail also agreed to pay costs.