At Bolt Burdon Kemp we have over 35 years experience of representing people who have suffered serious personal injury. We are recognised as one of the leading firms in this area by the independent guides to the legal profession: Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.
Your employer has a duty to protect your health while you are at work, therefore, you may be entitled to claim compensation if you have developed an industrial disease or illness in the workplace. This may have happened over a period of time through exposure to harmful materials or unsafe working practices or environments.
Types of industrial disease
Industrial disease or illness can happen over a period of time through exposure to harmful materials, or it could be caused due to unsafe working practices or environments.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss (industrial deafness)
Exposure to high intensity noise or a one off high-level acoustic trauma may cause damage to hearing.
Hand/Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)
Continued exposure to vibration tools can affect the blood vessels and nerves in the fingers causing pain and tingling/numbness.
Whole Body Vibration (WBV)
Long term exposure to vibrations in the workplace can cause WBV and can result in damage to the spine.
Asbestos Related Diseases
Asbestos Related Diseases can take various forms including Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Asbestos related lung cancer and Pleural Thickening. These conditions can take many years to manifest and are often fatal.
Occupational Respiratory Disease
This is collective term for a range of conditions caused by work related exposure to harmful substances such as dust and gasses. There are many types of work related respiratory conditions including Industrial Asthma, Silicosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Emphysema. Specific types of working operations such as grinding, drilling or polishing can materially increase the risk of developing one or more of these diseases.
Industrial Dermatitis
If the skin comes into contact with harmful substances such as solvents or detergents, it can cause inflammation or irritation known as industrial dermatitis.