Industrial disease – ill because of your job?

Over the years, thousands of people have developed illnesses during the course of their employment which very often are as a result of an unsafe system of working over many years.

It is usually the case that symptoms remain latent and take a long time to manifest themselves. Unfortunately the majority of the illnesses result in grave, long-term health consequences and it is often the case that you may have left the employer and the doctor diagnoses that your illness is work related.

The Law

Various laws and regulations have been passed to try to prevent the risk of workers developing illnesses as a result of their occupation. However, many employers have failed to comply with these laws.

Recently, many high profile cases have been brought before the courts and compensation worth millions of pounds has been awarded for industrial diseases contracted as a result of working several decades ago.

Whether you have contracted an illness as a result of your workplace or the industry you currently work or used to work in, employers still owe you a duty of care to manage your health and safety and ensure the risks associated with your job are minimised.

Much of the law revolves around the Health and Safety Act 1974 and the various Regulations that flow from it. More recently, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations have widened the application of the previous laws.

You can now claim for:

Asbestos Related Illnesses
Asbestosis
Mesothelioma
Lung Cancer
Vibration White Finger
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Industrial Deafness
Tinnitus

Asbestos

Asbestos has been widely used as a building material across the world since the 1950's. It has been used as lagging on plant and pipe-work, as insulation on fireproof panels and even sprayed onto structural steelwork to insulate against fire and noise.

Common Asbestos Illness Related Symptoms Are:

Breathlessness
A persistent chest infection or cough that does not clear up with medication
Coughing up blood
Pain in the chest whilst breathing

When inhaled, asbestos fibres damage the lungs and cause fatal diseases including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Recent case law has meant that anyone exposed to asbestos by more than one employer and developed asbestos related illnesses can claim against each and every employer without having to prove which exposure was to blame.

None of the cases of asbestos related illnesses occurring today should have happened. Many industries knew at the time asbestos was being used that it posed a danger to those exposed to it. According to the Health and Safety Executive, approximately 3,000 workers die each year as a result of exposure to asbestos products.

It is estimated that approximately 60,000 people will die in the UK by the 2060 as a result of asbestos related illnesses. We believe it is about time that the companies responsible should be called to account and made to contribute and help better the lives of their victims.

Asbestosis

This is the permanent scarring of the lung tissue. It occurs with frequent exposure to and inhalation of asbestos dust or fibres. These become lodged in the lungs and cause them to stiffen, lose their elasticity and make breathing difficult. As mentioned before, this often takes 30 to 40 years to develop after the initial exposure.

There is no cure for asbestosis, only medications that ease symptoms. Asbestosis often worsens, leading to mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Mesothelioma

This is a specific cancer of the cells inside the body. These cells line most bodily organs. The most common form of mesothelioma occurs in the lining around the lungs. Again, symptoms can range from shortness of breath to constant tingling in the lungs whilst breathing. There is no cure for mesothelioma and little research into it. The disease can lead to further cancers of the lung and death.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can either start in the lung or spread to the lung from another part of the body. People who have been exposed to asbestos have a high risk of developing lung cancer, further exacerbated if they smoke. The common treatment for any cancer is chemotherapy.

Vibration White Finger

Many people who contract this condition are not aware it has occurred due to their employment. For example, those who used to operate pneumatic drills may now suffer from constant pins and needles, or reduced dexterity of their fingers and hands without realising these symptoms have arisen because of their occupation.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Working in a loud, noisy environment for a sustained period of many years often leads to noise induced hearing loss. This covers many different symptoms that all relate to your hearing, for example:

Tinnitus – a constant ringing in your ear
Gradual hearing loss
Complete deafness

Noise induced hearing loss could have been caused from any industry, the most common being car plants, manufacturing and ship-building. Recently, workers for BMW claiming for industrial deafness caused on the production line in the 1960's and 70 have received £8 million in compensation.

If you think you have an illness caused by your work, you should seek immediate medical advice.
If your doctor confirms your illness has been caused by work, call Ralli on 0870 998 9000 or request a call back.
We advise that you call us immediately. It is wise to pursue your claim within three years of becoming aware of your symptoms. This does not mean you cannot claim if you contracted your illness many years ago. You can still claim, as long as we can evidence that your employer was negligent.
We will help you claim compensation and also advise you whether you are entitled to claim various state benefits.

Each personal injury claim is different so to discuss your claim call us today on 0870 998 9000 or request more information online.