The magistrate of the Social Court number 2 of Madrid recognizes that the widow’s pension of Jose Maria Inigo’s wife derives from an occupational disease due to the exposure of the well-known presenter to asbestos during his employment relationship with RTVE. The sentence to which Efe has had access this Tuesday, admits the lawsuit of Íñigo’s heirs and indicates that there are solid elements to affirm that the death of the presenter, which took place in 2018 was a consequence of the exhibition to asbestos during the first stage of his professional relationship with RTVE in which he provided services in Study 1, between the years 1975, 1976, 1978 to 1981 and 1982 to 1985.
Exposure to this mineral used in construction, according to the ruling, led to the subsequent development of malignant pleural mesothelioma within the lactation period, a rare cancerous tumor with a very important relationship with exposure to asbestos, of which was diagnosed in 2016, and that was the cause of death. The process was started by José María Íñigo himself before his death and was continued by his family who filed a lawsuit against the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation, Mutua Fraternidad Muprespa, National Institute of Social Security, and Sociedad Española de Radiodifusión SA
As the ruling recalls, Inigo worked on the RTVE programs Directísimo, Fantastico, or Estudio Abierto, among others, which were recorded in Prado del Rey’s Studio 1. According to the ruling, a large part of the buildings in this complex was built in the 70s and 80s and asbestos insulation was used for acoustic conditioning. Subsequently, this material was considered a carcinogenic agent, which is why RTVE began its withdrawal in 1986. The variety of asbestos used in Study 1 belongs to the group of friable materials, which can be disintegrated or reduced to dust with the single action of the hand. These materials, depending on the failure, are susceptible to release fibers as a result of shocks, vibrations, or air movement.
The ovations, noise, applause, and music caused vibrations in the structure of the set and crystalline dust fell on the cameras, the cyclorama, and the public, who demanded its cleaning. In the years 2003 and 2005, environmental samples were taken that, although they did not exceed the limits for environmental exposure, concluded with the need to deaminate. In 2011, RTVE agreed to carry out this process in several buildings, including studios 1, 2, and 3, and demolish others. This resolution is not final and against it, the filing of a petition can be filed before the Social Chamber of the Supreme Court of Madrid
