Teacher died from cancer caused by hanging pupils’ paintings on classroom walls

Jennifer Barnett, 60, died from malignant mesothelioma, caused after she hanged paintings on walls containing asbestos

An art teacher exposed to asbestos while hanging pupils’ paintings on classroom walls died from lung cancer caused by her work.

Jennifer Barnett, 60, died from malignant mesothelioma in September 2014.

Husband Nigel Barnett, of Painswick, Glos, told an inquest: “She became an art teacher and worked at various schools, often hanging paintings on walls containing asbestos.”

Coroner Katy Skerrett said: “It is clear that there was sufficient exposure to asbestos in her occupation for me to reach a conclusion that this lady died from an industrial disease.”

Her husband Nigel Barnett said in a written statement to the Gloucester inquest that his late wife had to cut sheets of asbestos while working on farms in her 20s.

He added: “She was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in July 2013 and I was with her when she collapsed and died at home.”

The inquest heard how the deceased had chemotherapy treatment “which was palliative and eased the pain,” according to senior coroner for Gloucestershire Katy Skerrett.

“A post mortem found a large tumour in the right lung,” said Ms Skerrett.
source: mirror.co.uk