Lorry’s Construction Services Ltd (LCS) specializes in the removal of asbestos from old buildings. It employs around 50 administrative and technical staff. Lesley is the owner and Managing Director. Several years ago, Lesley hired Michael as Works Manager. Michael was experienced and well qualified. Part of Michael’s role was to undertake risk assessments and to enforce health and safety standards at LCS’s premises and on site. Nathan, an employee of LCS, who had many years of experience working for other employers in the asbestos removal industry, was nearing retirement. He had become notoriously lazy in observing LCS’s strict safety rules while working on site. He sometimes failed to wear the full body suits and breathing apparatus supplied by LCS for his protection. Nathan was recently diagnosed with a very serious asbestos-related lung condition. Some experts are of the opinion that this lung condition is made worse by repeated exposure to asbestos fibres; other experts believe that the condition may be triggered by a single exposure to asbestos, and that repeated exposures do not aggravate the symptoms. Please advise LCS on its potential liability to Nathan.

Lorry’s Construction Services Ltd (LCS) specializes in the removal of asbestos from old buildings. It employs around 50 administrative and technical staff. Lesley is the owner and Managing Director. Several years ago, Lesley hired Michael as Works Manager. Michael was experienced and well qualified. Part of Michael’s role was to undertake risk assessments and to enforce health and safety standards at LCS’s premises and on site. Nathan, an employee of LCS, who had many years of experience working for other employers in the asbestos removal industry, was nearing retirement. He had become notoriously lazy in observing LCS’s strict safety rules while working on site. He sometimes failed to wear the full body suits and breathing apparatus supplied by LCS for his protection. Nathan was recently diagnosed with a very serious asbestos-related lung condition. Some experts are of the opinion that this lung condition is made worse by repeated exposure to asbestos fibres; other experts believe that the condition may be triggered by a single exposure to asbestos, and that repeated exposures do not aggravate the symptoms. Please advise LCS on its potential liability to Nathan.