Son of foreman seeks compensation for dad's death

The son of a coke plant foreman won the right in principle today to seek compensation for the death of his father who developed respiratory problems after working at the plant for nearly 40 years.

Berwyn Jones, from Caerphilly, cared for his father William Noah Jones during the last five years of his life until his death in December last year.

William Jones joined Nantgarw Coke Plant in South Wales in 1951 and worked there for 37 years.

For most of his working life, he worked on the oven tops and sides exposed to dust and fumes without any respiratory protection, which was only introduced at the plant in the 1980s, his son said.

Berwyn Jones, who joined his father to work at the plant in 1976, is claiming compensation alongside almost 200 employees from South Wales and England who say working conditions had caused their health problems.

It is alleged that the organisations in charge, British Coal, Coal Products Limited and National Smokeless Fuels Limited, didn't do enough to protect workers working around or on coking ovens.

Mr Jones said he is still fighting for his late father and hopes the claim will make other families aware they can take legal action even when their loved ones have passed away.

Today's ruling comes after a test case in October 2012 relating to the former Phurnacite plant in the Cynon Valley.

A High Court judgement said that working at the former Phurnacite plant in the Cynon Valley could have caused diseases of the lung, including lung cancer.

Kathryn Singh, partner and expert in industrial illness claims at Hugh James solicitors, said: “Today’s hearing is a hugely important stage in getting redress for those affected by illness following exposure to dust and fumes at a number of coking plants around the UK, including South Wales."