Automatically translated from Basque, translation may contain errors. More information here. Elhuyarren itzultzaile automatikoaren logoa

Frozen lungs of a worker killed by asbestos: last door to do justice

  • CAF shall compensate the relatives of a worker who died of asbestosis after finding asbestos in his lungs. The company brought an action, but in the case of Donostia-San Sebastián on 2. The Court of First Instance has condemned him to pay EUR 133,665 for civil liability.

06 October 2020 - 10:07

Celestino Tolosa died in 2008, working for years at the CAF factory in Irun. Almost ten years after his death, his lungs were frozen and in 2017, through tests performed at the Hospital de Santander, it was discovered that he had died from asbestosis due to asbestos used in his work.

They have since come a long way through the courts. In 2018, the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country ruled that asbestosis should be recognized as an occupational disease and, consequently, it is now the 2nd occupational disease of Donostia-San Sebastián. The Court has condemned the railway company of Beasain to compensate his family, daughter and widow with EUR 133,665 for "breaching a comprehensive health and safety regulation" of CAF.

The Association of Asbestos Victims, Asviamie, welcomed the ruling: “The company has frustrated its intention to hide the origin of many lung diseases,” he explained. CAF, in its appeal, argued that the worker smoked tobacco, in order to conceal his responsibility in the customs of individuals, according to this association.

Thus, the family members of the worker were aware of the truth a few years ago, justice has now been done by the judicial route, and there is only one last step to end the mourning, according to his words: “Excuse the company.”


You are interested in the channel: Osasuna
Sounds of bodies
"As I'm very literal, I like to understand what I draw"
He is imaginative and humorous, and drawing is his passion. Selva Iriarte Eletxigerra (Bilbao, 2001) has created the illustrated book Autism and Me (Chalaparta, 2025) to make autism visible. It is a book based on his life. It has mainly benefited from figurative art: “I have... [+]

Three schools in San Sebastián and two in Bilbao detect the highest air pollution in school areas
The surroundings of Zurriola Early Childhood Education, La Asunción and The English School in Donostia-San Sebastián and the Concha School in Bilbao and Calasancio-Escolapios are those that exceed the legal limit of carbon dioxide, according to the study carried out by... [+]

Identified the Basques in Osakidetza: a step on the way to guarantee arta in Basque?
Hospitalized patients will wear the “e” symbol on their wrist. The health workers know that these people have asked to be cared for. Osakidetza says it is another tool to facilitate communication in Basque. It’s one more step in a larger project. The main objectives of... [+]

Microplastics derived from starch could be harmful to health
Microplastics produced from biodegradable starch-based plastics have been found in one experiment to affect the health of mice. Researchers warn that it is imperative to better investigate the safety of bioplastics before their use continues to increase, especially in food... [+]

Berwick and us

You may not know who Donald Berwick is, or why I mention him in the title of the article. The same is true, it is evident, for most of those who are participating in the current Health Pact. They don’t know what Berwick’s Triple Objective is, much less the Quadruple... [+]


We also lugorri
They write to me asking where to collect the medicinal plants and I usually tell them to look at the roadsides. Romanticism has harmed us in many areas of life and even here, because the medicinal plants are not (only) on the paths near the top of the mountain, nor in that... [+]

Gorputz hotsak
“Niretzat klabea izan da familiak eta inguruak ez tratatzea gaixo moduan”

Indartsua, irribarretsua eta oso langilea. Helburu pila bat ditu esku artean, eta ideia bat okurritzen zaionean buru-belarri aritzen da horretan. Horiek dira Ainhoa Jungitu (Urduña, Bizkaia, 1998) deskribatzen duten zenbait ezaugarri. 2023an esklerosi anizkoitza... [+]


2025-04-08 | ELA sindikatua
The demand for Basque among doctors is 47 points lower than that of Spanish in Osakidetza
Currently in Osakidetza, the Basque service is not guaranteed. In most of the services there are no linguistic criteria and Basque citizens need to stand out, in a very vulnerable situation, in order to receive a service in Basque.

Osakidetza launches Primary Care Services for Trans People
The aim is to update the healthcare protocol for trans people in the Basque Country.It will be based on a network formed by the Primary Care Team (LMAT), the new Primary Care Service for trans people (tLMAZ) and professionals from the Gender Identity Unit (UTI) at the University... [+]

Data contradictions in Osakidetza: waiting lists down, citizens’ complaints up?
The Government has ensured that the waiting lists have been reduced to less than two months in the last quarter. The Ombudsman of the Basque Country, Manu Lezertua, highlighted another fact in his annual report on citizen complaints: Osakidetza’s complaints have increased by... [+]

2025-04-01 | Elhuyar
Antidepressant prescription increases due to pandemic
A study analyzing the use of antidepressants concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic in the Basque Country increased the incidence of depressive symptoms. The study also highlights the importance of addressing the mental health of the population along with physical problems, as... [+]

Bidasoako haur eta gazteen psikiatriako kontsultaren itxierak haserrea piztu du

Pazienteek Donostiara joan behar dute arreta jasotzeko. Osasun Bidasoa plataforma herritarrak salatu du itxierak “are gehiago hondatuko” duela eskualdeko osasun publikoa.


Eguneraketa berriak daude