Electricians liability insurance holders have been told that a man who used to work in the industry died because of exposure to asbestos.
The Herald Express reported that Roy Holt, who spent his younger years working for the Central Electricity Generating Board near Birmingham, was exposed to the cancer-related material when he used to pack metal samples into asbestos cords and wool.
Mr Holt, originally from Nottinghamshire, died in July this year aged 72 having been diagnosed with mesothelioma a month earlier.
The newspaper reported that former colleague, Tom Rowberry, told the inquest in Torbay: "We were eating the stuff as there were no masks or protective suits. We handled asbestos by hand. Tom had to wear special lenses because asbestos dust was going in his eyes. It was quite acidic and burnt."
Recording a verdict of industrial illness-related death, coroner Ian Arrow told public liability insurance holders that Mr Holt died from his exposure to asbestos during his work.
Research from the Health and Safety Executive showed that every week six electricians die from breathing in asbestos fibres.