Hull Dock Workers

Supporting you and your family

Hull Dock Workers

In the decades following WW2, raw asbestos from South Africa was a regular cargo which was discharged at the Hull Docks, particularly at King George Dock.

It was mainly brought in on vessels owned or operated by Ellerman Wilson Line or McGregor, Gow & Holland such as the City Boats, the Castle Boats or the Clan Boats.

It was stored in the deep holds of the ships and often amongst other cargoes such as animal hides, manganese or even foodstuffs.

In the pen, dockers would be told which ships they were allocated to.  They had no choice but to take whatever work was required of them.

Working conditions were terrible and often dangerous.  The dockers were not told that asbestos was dangerous and had no protective clothing or masks to stop them from inhaling the asbestos fibres.

It was often the case that the hessian bags had burst or would split easily when moved, releasing the raw asbestos down onto the dockers who worked below in the holds. The sacks would be put into strops and lifted out of the holds onto the quayside or sometimes into other craft, waiting alongisde to take asbestos away down the River Hull.  Some of the asbestos would be taken away by rail and some of it would be taken by lorry to asbestos factories near Manchester where it could be made into asbestos products.

Our solicitors are proud to have helped hundreds of Hull dock workers and their families to secure compensation.

Humber Bank Industries

Our knowledge of the presence and use of asbestos by industries on either side of the Humber is second to none.  Our solicitors have helped many workers to secure compensation and benefits.

Return to Compensation for Asbestos Related Diseases

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