T&N Rochdale, asbestos and cancer - There WAS a cover up

Following recent controversial claims by Cyril Smith about asbestos, health and Turner & Newall (T&N), Rochdale Online has been given first access to a series of documents that clearly suggests there WAS a cover up by the factory about the dangers of the mineral.

The damning documents form part of the vast archive of T&N company documents that many thought were long ago destroyed by the Rochdale asbestos factory. Some of the documents were rescued in the 1980s from waste skips by T&N managers disgusted at the thought of a corporate cover-up.

The past decade has seen a number of academic articles and publications about asbestos and T&N.

Local attention recently turned to a New Statesman investigation: Asbestos – The Lies that Killed.

The New Statesman publication has caused controversy because of claims and documents suggesting that former MP Cyril Smith played a role in promoting asbestos and T&N in Parliament.

Sir Cyril has strongly denied any corporate cover up. Speaking on BBC North West Tonight. Sir Cyril gave the following frank rebuke: “Absolute rubbish. How could I cover up the dangers of asbestos?”

It appears Sir Cyril remains confident about the safety of asbestos. With strong echoes of his reassurances made in the early 1980's, Sir Cyril remains adamant: “Well of course there is no danger of asbestos to the public at large. You were never in danger of it. I was never in danger of it."

At one point Sir Cyril interrupted the interviewer, Stuart Flinders, saying: “Well I'm not sure you are correct, actually I think you are over-stating the case. There were people that worked there but they knew the dangers with it. But nobody made them work there. They could have left."

Since the New Statesman article and subsequent broadcasts, Rochdale Online now has access to original T&N documents that demonstrate a knowledge of the health and cancer risks from asbestos and the corporate response to this deadly knowledge.

Rochdale Online has the opportunity for its readers to see the papers for themselves and make their own decisions in a series of reports on the Spodden Valley section of this website - the links to which are available below.

None of these documents suggest that Cyril Smith, as Rochdale's MP in the 1970s and 80s, knew of the cancer risk.

They do, however, give a damning insight into T&N's emerging knowledge, attitude and reaction to cancer and health throughout the 20th century.

This document list is in no way exhaustive, it is a merely a representative account of key asbestos issues that could still have profound relevance for Rochdale in 2008। As the SSV campaign and others state: "History should not repeat itself regarding asbestos and the Spodden Valley site."

Asbestos - Early knowledge of danger: 1898

The document that accompanies this article is an excerpt from the H.M. Factory Chief Inspector's 1898 report that makes specific mention of asbestos.

Concerns about asbestos and health had been well documented by the late 19th Century. However the 1898 report was significant as this is official, state, recognition of the health hazard.

Miss Dean H.M Factory Inspector reported: “...The evil effects of asbestos have also attracted my attention. A microscopic examination of the mineral dust which was made by H.M.Medical Inspector clearly revealed the sharp, glass-like jagged nature of the particles, and where they are allowed to rise and to remain suspended in the air of a room, in any quantity, the effects have been found to be injurious, as might have been expected...”

Readers should note the careful phrase “in any quantity” in the precautionary warning about asbestos dust from Queen Victoria's reign.

To view the other articles in this series and to download the documents, visit the links below:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/21/spodden-valley/13956/tandn-rochdale-asbestos-and-cancer-there-was-a-cover-up-part-2

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/21/spodden-valley/13955/tandn-rochdale-asbestos-and-cancer-there-was-a-cover-up-part-3

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/21/spodden-valley/13954/tandn-rochdale-asbestos-and-cancer-there-was-a-cover-up-part-4

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/21/spodden-valley/13953/tandn-rochdale-asbestos-and-cancer-there-was-a-cover-up-part-5

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/21/spodden-valley/13952/tandn-rochdale-asbestos-and-cancer-there-was-a-cover-up-part-6

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/21/spodden-valley/13951/tandn-rochdale-asbestos-and-cancer-there-was-a-cover-up-part-7