A SCOTS grandfather is taking legal action against the brickworks where he worked for nearly 20 years after being diagnosed with a devastating lung disease.
John McCrae, 79, developed a condition called silicosis, understood to be caused by breathing in deadly dust particles for years at GR Stein Refractories in Castlecary, Stirlingshire.
The once-fit and active man received the heartbreaking news after his concerned daughter persuaded him to speak to a GP about his raspy cough – now he has dropped nearly three stone in weight and can barely walk the garden path.
John now hopes a legal action will help him access medical treatment and has joined a new digital campaign in a bid to help others.
He said: “I beg you – don’t ignore the symptoms, speak to your GP and talk to them about where you worked. If not for you then do it for your family.”
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust – a natural mineral found in rock – where symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue and weight loss.
There is no cure for silicosis – it is a chronic and progressive disease that is similar to conditions caused by asbestos.
Those most at risk of silicosis include stonemasons, demolition workers, people who work in quarries or, like John, people employed in brickworks.
John worked as a chargehand at GR Stein brickworks between 1962 and 1981.
Legal papers state he was brought in close contact with giant brick crushing machines which filled the immediate environment with dust containing silica particles.
It is argued GR Stein is responsible for John’s silicosis because they failed to give him specialist breathing masks and a ventilated workplace that would have protected him from the toxic exposure.
John added: “I always had a cough, but it bothered my daughter more than it bothered me.
“I went to the doctor. He saw I lost a lot of weight and referred me to an X-ray, CT scan and an MRI scan.
“This is when they discovered there was something going on in my chest. This consultant asked me where I worked.
“The bells were clearly ringing in his head and he suspected it would likely be the dust. I just couldn’t believe it.
“That’s when the respiratory specialist told me to get a lawyer.
“Personally, I don’t care about the money – but fighting this case could help other people like me with this disease so it’s the right thing to do.”
John and his family are now being helped by Digby Brown Solicitors and have thrown their support behind a vital new online resource to help sufferers – https://www.silicosisscotland.co.uk/
Euan Love, head of the firm’s industrial disease team and the top industrial disease lawyer in Scotland, fears hundreds more silicosis suffers could be denied justice.
He said: “Authorities have known about silicosis for decades which is precisely why employers had a duty to protect workers from the known risks of silica particle exposure.
“Most people know about asbestos and those diseases – silicosis is like a sister disease with similar symptoms and the number of cases reported across the world is rising quickly.
“It’s a disease people need to take seriously and that starts with people taking their symptoms seriously and speaking to their GP like John did.
“Luckily, the doctor in his case knew to ask about his work history which is a vital part in any investigation process.
“John’s civil claim is in its early days so we cannot comment further however we are committed to providing the support he deserves.”
