A Scottish stonemason has secured one of the largest payouts in the country’s history after being awarded £3.5 million for silicosis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from workplace negligence.
Gordon Walters was a stonemason and worked on the Elgin Cathedral site in the 1980s, where he carried out renovations and maintenance without the appropriate personal protective equipment. He says his life would be “totally different” if he had been provided with the correct equipment.
Mr Walters took Historic Scotland, the agency responsible for the UK Government’s Scottish Development Department of the Scotland Office, and his employer at the time, to court.
Mr Walter’s legal representation says that despite health and safety regulations requiring masks on site, he was not given a mask during his time at the site. During that period, he was exposed to significant amounts of stone dust, and was later diagnosed with the autoimmune condition SLE, and the silicosis diagnoses soon followed.
He approached his trade union for advice, who referred him to Thompsons Solicitors, who established that his exposure at the Cathedral had resulted in his two conditions.
Mr Walters said: “The Silicosis and SLE I have developed through Historic Scotland’s negligent actions has put me through absolute hell.
“It has ravaged my body and means I have to be supported and cared for in almost every aspect of my daily life.
“The damages I have received will make it possible for all the proper care I need to be put in place but if only Historic Scotland has abided by accepted safety standards my life would have been entirely different.”
One of the lawyers who represented Mr Walters explained that the conditions are “cruel” but “can be prevented by making sure people working with stone are properly protected.
“Historic Scotland completely failed in their duty of care to Gordon, and the size of his damages reflect the sheer scale of that failure.”
Mark Serwotka, PCS union general secretary, said: “We are pleased to have helped secure this settlement for Gordon.
“We will continue to fight for our member’s well-being whatever the issue.”