Widows have been placed at the center of a fresh warning about asbestos after Rachel Oakes received more than £1m in compensation following the death of her husband, Rick Oakes. The former Kirklees Council worker died in 2024, aged 67, after being diagnosed with mesothelioma two years earlier. The case has renewed attention on the risks linked to asbestos in public buildings, with Rachel saying she wants his story to help others understand the danger.
Compensation follows asbestos-linked death
Rick Oakes, from York, had worked as a joiner in schools in Kirklees years earlier, and law firm Irwin Mitchell established that his exposure to asbestos through that work was tied to the illness that later killed him. Kirklees Council accepted a breach of duty and said it took health and safety responsibilities “extremely seriously, ” adding that its practices had changed significantly as working practices evolved.
Rachel, 51, said the compensation does not lessen the loss felt by the family. She described Rick as her “best friend” and said the couple’s children have lost their father. She also said that since his death the family has had grandchildren who will never know him as “a Pops. ”
Widows and families raise asbestos warning
The case has become personal for Rachel, who said she wants to use it to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos in public buildings. She said people working in schools, hospitals, and plumbing may still be exposed, and that the impact can be devastating. Rachel said Rick would dust himself down after shifts and take the bus home, never knowing that the exposure could one day take his life.
Irwin Mitchell partner and solicitor Nicola Handley said she has represented teachers, support staff, nurses, and others exposed to asbestos through work in old buildings. She said many people still think asbestos is only a historical problem tied to heavy industry, but Rick’s case shows that is not true. She said he was exposed simply by going to work and entering a public building that many would have assumed was safe.
What Kirklees Council said
Kirklees Council said it now follows “the highest modern standards of safety in managing and monitoring asbestos in our buildings” as part of a robust asbestos management plan. The council’s statement comes as widows and families affected by asbestos continue to press for awareness, especially in buildings where the material may still be present.
The family had already raised more than £20, 000 for Mesothelioma UK, SARAG, St Leonard’s Hospice and Marie Curie UK. For Rachel, the case is now about more than compensation: it is about making sure other widows and families understand how asbestos can reach ordinary workers in ordinary places. As this case settles, widows may see it as another reminder that the risks linked to asbestos have not disappeared.
