HSE

Byron Scott didn't know about the dangers posed by asbestos when he left school at 15 to become an apprentice carpenter and joiner in the Rhondda. It wasn't until 10 years after his retirement that the devastating effects became clear.

It was the spring of 2008 when Byron, who was happily helping his eldest grandson on his house, became unwell and went to see his doctor. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable type of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, just after his 72nd birthday. Despite a brave fight, it would claim his life just 15 months later.

Byron, who lived in Porth with his wife Val, learned his trade working for a building company in the Rhondda from 1953, before going into business with one of his work colleagues to set up their own company in 1969.

It was while he was working for his first employer that he worked with asbestos insulation board, cutting it for use in new homes during the 1950s and 60s.

"He had no training in handling asbestos and no knowledge of the long term effects," said his daughter, Gail Jones, from Ferndale. "This stuff was everywhere."

Gail said her father was a perfectly fit man who used to work seven days a week, but the battle to try to beat the cancer proved to be physically and mentally distressing.

His widow Val said: "He had an operation to remove part of his lung, and the doctors managed to get rid of 90 per cent of the tumour, but they couldn't get the other 10 per cent because it was a long operation and the doctors were worried about him being under anaesthetic for too long.

The chemotherapy that followed the operations managed to reduce the remaining tumour by 95 per cent, but while it looked like there was a glimmer of hope for Byron, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread to his lymph glands.

"We are a close-knit family," said Val, "we have a close circle of friends too and they all rallied round to help Byron keep going."

Val, Byron and their family tried to live as normally as possible, and the couple took a two week cruise to the Italian Mediterranean in September 2008, along with a group of friends who all helped to look after him and make sure that the holiday was full of special memories.

Val said: "We weren't able to do quite as much as the others during the trip because Byron didn't feel up to it. On previous cruises, he was able to scale the climbing wall on the ship, but not this time."

Byron died in July 2009, and his popularity in the local community was confirmed by more than 500 mourners turning up at his funeral to pay last respects, including members of Cor Meibion Pontypridd who provided a musical tribute to their colleague.

"Everybody loved my father," said Gail, "He was just great - a really warm person."

For Byron, his work and family were his life, he was a first class carpenter, he even had his own workshop in the back garden where he would use his skills to make a range of household items including lamps.

But his widow and his daughter want to see better precautions taken by today's employers and workers so that no-one else in the future has to go through what Byron and his family have been through.

Val said: "I'd like to see better protection for workers and I'd like to see employers and workers made more aware of asbestos. You can't replace lives."

And her father's struggle has made Gail increasingly protective of her own family, including her three children: Gareth, 28; Lynne 25 and David 23. David carries out maintenance and plumbing at hospitals across South Wales, while Gail's husband Tudor works as an estate manager in a local hospital.

"I am worried about them - it does make me anxious to think that they could get it by working around asbestos. They've been tested for it and it came back negative but I wouldn't want them to take any chances."

Gail and Val are supporting HSE's campaign, 'Asbestos: The Hidden Killer', and hope that by telling Byron's story they can help prevent other trade and maintenance workers suffering the same devastating fate as their family. They urge all workers to be asbestos aware and to protect themselves, for their own sake and for that of their families.