BBC admits liability in horn player’s asbestos death
NewsThe BBC has admitted in court papers that its Maida Vale studios have been riddled with asbestos dust, leading to the possible death this year of two members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
The widow of horn player Christopher Larkin, who died of mesothelioma aged 73 in April after 36 years’ servic, is suing for damages.
Her lawyers are also preparing a case for the family of violinist Edwin Dodd, who died of mesothelioma in January, aged 89.
The studios have been the subject of prolonged vacillation among BBC executives. They are now up for sale.
Report here.
This is a very disturbing story. The BBC should be making available to anyone who has worked or played in this building, like me, how exposure to asbestos came about. The admission of liability suggests that the problem was known about and probably for some time.
How it came about?
Asbestos was highly valued as a building material for its fire-resistant properties. They were expecting to make the building safer.
…and then when it was found to be dangerous 40+ years ago, did nothing (or not enough) about it.
Maybe it’s time they compensated all BBC employees and others who were and are working in the MV studios…
It’s a pity the BBC can’t look out for the occupational health of its employees from its £4bn budget. Perhaps it could cut back on a few of those overpaid autocue readers (Lineker on £1.3mn plus, Zoe Ball on £1.1mn) in order to see to the basics. A bloated organisation that is not fit for purpose and, clearly, a danger to its employees (as well as the country through its evil propaganda). No doubt the forthcoming large payout will come from the longsuffering licence tax payer and no-one will be held responsible.
Why single people out? The BBC is in the business of getting faces glued to screens, and last night had the third biggest audience in UK history. Not to say what international sales wrought. Domestically, at least, that is contributed to by Gary Lineker.
On the main issue, they must have known about the asbestos for years. Many buildings have been refit, or otherwise decommissioned. Why did the BBC do neither?
Andrew writes: “a danger to … the country through its evil propaganda.”
Huh? The BBC might have problems, and doesn’t really reflect the values of many people whose views “aren’t trendy”. But it is mainly well intentioned, if sometimes mistaken (according to the opponents of these views), and the people working there are, on the whole, decent if sometimes a little vacuous. They certainly aren’t evil and malicious and it is bizarre to claim they are.
At least they are conceding the point to the widow now instead of trying to outlast her with years of litigation.
Have you read the article? It says that the BBC had been very slow to co-operate, and conceded only once the lawyers started making official demands for disclosure.
Most musicians in the UK rehearse and record at Maida Vale at some point in their career ….it seems that everybody has been put at risk by the BBC not just members of the BBC symphony orchestra.