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INSIGHT ... former research manager Dick Badami has come to the defence of Turner and Newall.
INSIGHT ... former research manager Dick Badami has come to the defence of Turner and Newall.
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'Asbestos firm did all it could'

Alice McKeegan
12/ 9/2008

A LEADING scientist has defended the conduct of a former asbestos giant.

Dick Badami, of War Office Road, Bamford, was a senior research manager at Turner and Newall between 1973 and 1982 and contacted the Observer to reveal his insight following recent stories condemning the company.

He was in charge of one of the world’s largest research programmes to find alternatives to asbestos and believes that the company did everything possible to minimise health risks.

The 81-year-old, who was made an MBE in 1987, said: "There’s a lot of misinformation.

"I am probably the only person living in Rochdale that was working on this programme and I want people to know the facts.

"Asbestos was part of everyday life and was used in hundreds of industries.

"When I first joined the company, people – including the public – were concerned and asked if it was safe.

"We knew that there were risks and that’s why we travelled around Europe telling other companies to take precautions.

"We were doing everything to develop alternatives."

The company launched a series of tests to work out air purity levels and ensure that measures were being taken to protect workers.

During the period, Mr Badami discussed his findings with company directors and briefed doctors on the latest medical advice.

He says that the business spent millions of pounds searching for alternative materials and helped to ensure that none of its customer industries went out of business when asbestos was banned.

He added: "Rochdale led the industry and it’s important to say that we had much better provisions in place to protect workers and other industries.

"The company was responsible and every decision that was made should be viewed in the context of the time.

"Unfortunately, ignorance of asbestos had terrible consequences."


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Most recent 2 of 8 user comments

   David Lingard is an honourable person. He has the guts to name names and tell the truth. Another such is Jason Addy, these guys do what they do out of pure conviction and to try and undo the mistakes of the past. No MBE's or posh houses in War Office Road for them I guess. But at least they can sleep at night......
Henry Kelly, Ireland
24/09/2008 at 01:54
   I accept I misinterpreted Henry Kelly’s first point and offer my sorrow. You know Sir, we all make mistakes and I have made a few myself. I have only just grasped the very real devastation mesothelioma is causing to Rochdale people. It probably represents Rochdale’s biggest killer next to heart disease. I am bereft of hope, I really am that Turner Brothers and it’s former M.P have been responsible for helping so many nice Rochdale workers give their lives to this dirty town by sending them to an early and painful death and all for the sordid topic coin. It angers me that the people charged with safeguarding their interests live on to enjoy massive public pensions in comfort while the inactions of those charged with a community responsibility have seen to it that the cold icy breath of death leaves them fighting for life, compensation and a desire to ensure the Valley of Death are never, ever built on (I am referring to Spodden Valley). But oh what’s the point, why don’t we all bugger off to New Zealand or somewhere else because we can only ever hope that politicians will apply their best endeavours by representing us. Alas this Sir Cyril character failed in his duty so for those with Mesothelioma it’s a case of sorry, ‘Last one out switch the lights out’. But I love every god damn one of you and it’s the god given duty of those with health to fight on in your memory and bring these people with dirty hands to account, despite their age and vulnerability because politicians of today pass it off bas mistakes of yesteryear. Well, his people are dying today and he just cannot bring himself to say sorry and hand his pension and his MBE over to those he failed miserably. Those who come to us to explain his actions and those wanting to develop land had better come to the people of this town with clean hands in future because we are learning valuable lessons or are we? Just ask the passionate Spodden Valley campaigners whose efforts have been high jacked by the politicians of today. I think Mr Addy and the real people are articulating the real death and devastation that this site represents which should be turned over as memorial to those slain by this factory and its supporters. Trouble is, no bugger is hearing
David Lingard, Witheld
22/09/2008 at 23:31
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