• Occupational Illness
• Occupational Skin Disease
• Industrial Deafness
• Vibration White Finger VWF
• Respiratory Illness
• Asbestos Disease
• Repetitive Strain Injury RSI
• Pulmonary Disease COPD

An occupational illness or industrial disease is a medical condition contracted as a result of an unsatisfactory working environment which does not cover traumatic physical injury caused by an accident. The term is used for a wide range of medical conditions including injuries to the skin, respiratory system and muscles, nerves and tendons. Some of these conditions are themselves umbrella terms for multiple illnesses. In all cases injury is caused as a result of an employer failing to look after the health and safety of employees and as a result is liable in negligence to pay compensation for any injury or loss attributed to occupational illness. Our specialist personal injury solicitors deal with compensation claims for occupational illness and industrial disease. If you would like free advice on whether or not your potential claim is viable and an estimate of the potential damages award just contact our offices.

Employers are under a legal duty to take care of the health and safety of their employees. There are numerous statutes and regulations which dictate that there should be a safe system of work which includes a controlled environment in the workplace. All procedures that are potentially hazardous should be subject to risk assessment and reasonable action should be taken to remove or reduce any risk identified. There should be adequate ventilation with a safe system for handling hazardous material accompanied by the provision of safety equipment and protective clothing including respiratory masks where necessary. Any employer that fails to discharge this basic duty to employees will be liable in negligence to pay the employee compensation for any injury, disease or illness sustained as a result of failure to properly carry out health and safety procedures.

Substantial damages are often awarded to those suffering from an occupational illness or industrial disease which include :-

• repetitive strain injury rsi
• vibration white finger vwf
• whole body vibration syndrome wbvs
• hand arm vibration syndrome havs
• beat knee
• bladder cancer
• industrial deafness
• skin disease
• work induced stress
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd
• respiratory disease
• asbestosis
• mesothelioma
• pleural disease
• asthma
• chronic bronchitis
• pneumoconiosis
• silicosis
• tenosynovitis

Many of these illnesses have a long latency period between exposure and the development of symptoms. There are time limits to compensation claims for occupational illness or industrial disease however due to the nature of most of these conditions the normal rules are modified whereby time doesn’t start running until the illness is discovered which in real terms mean as and when a formal diagnosis is made by a medical specialist. There are exceptions to the normal rules for those with mental incapacity, including the elderly who may suffer from dementia before the condition is diagnosed. The law relating to time limits is complex and you should always seek the advice of a qualified solicitor as soon as possible after diagnosis of an occupational illness or industrial disease.

If you want to make an ocupational illness compensation claim our personal injury solicitors can help you to preserve your legal right to compensation. We offer free consultations for advice to find out whether you have a viable industrial disease case, how to go about claiming and how much your compensation might be worth. We will give you clear unequivocal advice about your chances of success and the anticipated value of your claim. If after talking to us you decide not to take matters further you are under no obligation to do so and you will not be charged anything at all.

copyright 1999