Plumbers liability insurance customers have been told that a Marlborough man's death was caused by inhaling asbestos fibres.
ThisisWiltshire.co.uk reported that John Middleton died in August this year at the age of 72 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer associated with asbestos.
At his inquest at Trowbridge Town Hall, coroner David Ridley said that Mr Middleton had left school aged 16 and worked for a number of firms in the area as a plumber.
"Part of his job would be stripping down boilers and pipes, which would have been lagged with asbestos. In the 1950s and 1960s the dangers of asbestos were not widely known and no protective equipment was issued," he added.
Mr Ridley added that he had no hesitation in finding that Mr Middleton died from an industrial disease brought on by his contact with asbestos. A claim for compensation will now be made by Mr Middleton's solicitors.
Throughout November the Health and Safety Executive is running a 'hidden killer' campaign aimed at educating plumbers liability insurance customers about the dangers of asbestos.