A FORMER worker at ICI died as a result of coming into contact with asbestos during a career spanning five decades, an inquest has heard.

Christopher John Charles Lees, 79, who was born in Stoke on Trent, but lived in Oak Lane in Northwich, died on May 17 this year at St Luke's Hospice in Winsford due to mesothelioma.

The inquest was read at Warrington Coroners Court by Assistant Coroner Heath Westerman, who confirmed Dr Sally Chalmers, a doctor at St Lukes Hospice, provided a report that stated in her medical opinion, the cause of Mr Lees' death was 1A, mesothelioma.

Mr Lees, a retired Health and Safety employee of the chemical giant, provided a lengthy in-life statement that was read out in full by Mr Westerman. In that statement, Mr Lees explained how he was only diagnosed with mesothelioma in February this year after undergoing a biopsy in January. He worked for the company for more than 30 years, before being made redundant in 1992.

In 1958, while based in a Research Department, he began working on the development of products from the waste produced from ICI's many sites. After a move to the Technical Research and Development Laboratory, he worked as a team of eight development a new fire fighting agent, which he said brought him into direct contact with asbestos.

Mr Lees said: "Through our work we identified a mix that was highly effective and eventually become known as Monnex.

"Monnex is a chemical powder that can be used in high temperature fires when blown into the combustion zone of the fire.

"The powder breaks down into minute particles, increasing their surface area for rapid quenching of the fire. At the time there was nothing like it on the market."

"In order to test the capabilities of the powder, as well as methods for best usage, and any limitations there might be, we needed to be somewhere where we could set quite large, intense fires in a variety of scenarios.

"It was in and around this stage in 1968 we transferred to the old polythene plant. This building became our home for the next seven years where I believe I had a prolonged and sustained contact with asbestos. "While everything from the building had been removed with the exception of pipework, the dust from the removal process was still evident everywhere we went.

"Accumulations of this dust rested on the floor and other surfaces."

Mr Lees went on to explain about how, as time progressed, he and his colleagues would often go to demonstrate the usefulness of the product to potential customers, which led to further direct contact with asbestos. In those demonstrations, Mr Lees and his colleagues would set large fires in order to show how effective the Monnex was at extinguishing them.

He went on: "As the fires were very intense, we were provided with fire safety suits. This was referred as an asbestos suit, which was a silver aluminium coated material with two layers of asbestos insulation on the inside.

"The asbestos material inside had a woolly texture and sat directly on my clothing, which was usually a set of overalls, which I wore every day during my time in this department doing this work.

"I cannot emphasis the level of heat that we worked against. The fires set were ferocious. The asbestos suits were designed to protect us, not only from the flames but also from the intense heat.

"As I pulled this suit on and off I would disturb the asbestos inside it, potentially disturbing the asbestos fibres.

"I would have to put my boots on before the suit as once it was on, it was very difficult to bend over.

"As this action was repeated at least twice daily, over a number of years, in my opinion this would have amounted to a significant quantity of asbestos fibre being inhaled.

"The suits were of a good quality but had to be replaced throughout my time working on this project as they did deteriorate due to the heat and overall wear and tear.

"It was always an asbestos suit that was provided to us.

"We also did heavy work in these suits, moving 45 gallon drums of fuel and setting fires so it is understandable they needed replacing from time to time."

Mr Lees went on to describe how he moved to the Castner Kellner plant in Runcorn in the mid 1970's, where he again encountered asbestos, usually in the form of insulation lagging "the miles and miles of pipework".

He said: "While safety advisors worked to check out safety procedures to ensure work was carried out to specific safety standards, it was impossible to rule out all incidents of exposure of asbestos.

"As knowledge of the dangers of asbestos increased in the mid-80's and guidance was issued on the matter we sought to provide the necessary respiratory protective equipment when removing asbestos installation.

"I believe the majority of my exposure to asbestos has come about as a result of my work while wearing a fire suit provided to me by ICI.

"But it is also possible I may have been unwittingly exposes to asbestos by contractors and fitter undertaking maintenance work as I was passing through the plant in Runcorn."

Recording a conclusion of death as a result of industrial disease, Mr Westerman confirmed the medical cause of Mr Lees death as 1A mesothelioma.

He said: "He was exposed to asbestos fibres during the course of his employment. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in February 2020 and was placed on palliative end of life care.

"My conclusion after hearing all the evidence, on the balance of probability, is one of industrial disease, and that is what I will record.

"May I offer my sincere condolences to the remaining family and friends of Mr Lees."