Industrial Disease
That's ill because of your job?
Thousands of people over the years have contracted illnesses during the course of doing their job which very often are as a result of an unsafe method of working over many years.
It is usually the case that symptoms remain hidden and take a long time to be noticeable. Unfortunately the bulk of the conditions result in serious, long-term health problems and it is often the case that you may have left the company and the doctor diagnoses that your condition is work related.
The Law
Laws and regulations have been passed to try to prevent the risk of workers developing illnesses as a result of their jobs. Many employers have failed to act in accordance with with these laws.
Recently, many high profile cases have been brought before the courts and compensation worth millions of pounds has been given for industrial diseases contracted as a result of working done several years ago.
Whether you have contracted an illness as a result of your workplace or the industry you currently work in or used to work in, employers still owe you a duty of care to manage the health and safety and ensure the risks connected with your job are minimised.
The Health and Safety Act 1974 and the various Regulations that come from it. More recently, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations have widened the use 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
The uses of asbestos as a building material has been widely used across the world since the 1950's. It was used as lagging on pipe-work and plant, as insulation on fireproof panels and even sprayed onto structural steelwork to insulate against fire and noise.
Asbestos Illness Related Symptoms:
- Constant chest infections or cough that does not clear up with drugs
- Breathlessness
- Coughing up blood
- Pain in the chest whilst breathing
When you inhale asbestos fibres it damages the lungs and causes 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 one without having to prove which employer was to blame.
None of the cases of asbestos related illnesses taking place today should have happened. Many industries knew that the asbestos being used posed a danger to the workers exposed to it. The Health and Safety Executives have said that in the region of 3,000 workers die each year as a result of working with asbestos products.
It is also estimated that 60,000 people will die in the UK by 2060 as a result of asbestos related illnesses. The companies to blame should be made to make a payment and help improve the lives of the sufferers of Asbestosis related illnesses.
Asbestosis
This is permanent scarring of lung tissue. It happens with repeated contact to and breathing in asbestos dust or fibres. These become stuck fast in the lungs and cause them to stiffen, lose their flexibility and make breathing difficult. As stated before, this can take 30 to 40 years to develop after the original exposure.
There is no cure for asbestosis, only drugs that ease the symptoms. Asbestosis often gets worse, leading to mesothelioma or lung cancer
Mesothelioma
This is a specific cancer of the cells inside the body. The cells line most organs in the body. The most common form of mesothelioma happens in the lining of the lungs. Symptoms can range from shortness of breath to constant irritation in the lungs whilst breathing. Mesothelioma has no cure and there has been little research into it. The disease can lead to further cancers of the lung and death.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer can either spread to the lungs from another part of the body or it can start in the lungs. Individuals that have been exposed to asbestos have the highest risk of developing lung cancer, also if they smoke this can make it worse. The common treatment for any cancer is chemotherapy.
Vibration White Finger
Many people who have this condition are not aware it has happened due to their employment. One example is those who used to operate pneumatic drills may now suffer from constant pins and needles or reduced movement in the fingers and hands, without noticing these symptoms have arisen due to their occupation.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Working in loud, noisy surroundings for a continuous amount of time over many years often leads to noise induced hearing loss.
This covers many different symptoms that all relate to your hearing, here are some examples:
- 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. If you think you have an illness caused by your work, you should get immediate medical advice.
It is wise to start 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 have evidence that your employer was negligent.
