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If you have suffered from a disease, injury or
disorder that you believe may be work related - you may
be entitled to make a
compensation
claim.
These cases can be very difficult as unlike accident
claims the injured party must show that on the balance
of probability, the symptoms being complained of were
caused or aggravated by working conditions. This is a
specialised area of law and we have a team of
experienced solicitors ready to help with your case.
Background
Many people wrongly believe that these claims only apply to
workers in heavy industrial jobs such as mining or steel
manufacturing. In actual fact there are a vast number of
jobs that may lead to occupational disease or
disability.
Any job that requires workers to use hand held tools,
work in noisy environments or involve a degree of
exposure to hazardous substances (such as asbestos or
even chemicals). You may have worked in such
environments many years ago but only now noticed the
symptoms.
Please make an enquiry with us TODAY regarding your
possible claim for industrial illness compensation. You
may be entitled to a significant award along with lost
earnings or treatment costs.
We can help with claims arising from work carried out
in key industrial towns such as Manchester, Leeds,
Birmingham, Nottingham, Bradford, Hull, Bristol,
Cardiff, Newport, Newcastle, Sunderland and the North
East.
More about occupational disease or
disability claims:
1)
ASBESTOS ILLNESSES
Asbestos compensation claims
Asbestosis is a disease affecting the lungs which
results from breathing in asbestos fibres. These fibres
cause irritation in the lungs and this leads to
scarring. Further complications can occur such as
thickening of the surrounding tissue and this can
deteriorate into a condition known as fibrosis. Asbestos
exposure can cause many different types of symptoms and
conditions such as
pleural thickening,
mesothelioma,
lung disease and
asbestosis. There are
varying degrees of severity.
If you were exposed to asbestos at anytime between
the years 1950-1985 you might have the right to make a
legal claim
2) NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS (NIHL)
Industrial or Occupational hearing loss
Occupational Deafness or
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
to quote the more common legal term, is a deterioration
of a person’s hearing as a result of their working
environment. This usually results from prolonged
unmanaged exposure to a noise in the workplace.
There are many
occupations that can result in
exposure to noise and it is for the employer to risk
assess the dangers posed to their workforce, before then
dealing with the issues to protect their employees. If
you have been exposed to noise at work - you might be
able to claim.
Some people will have symptoms that result from
working in noisy environments many years ago. Such
cases, whilst complex can still lead to compensation
being awarded.
3) VIBRATION INJURIES
Vibration white finger claims
Vibration White Finger (now more commonly known as
"Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome") is an industrial injury
which mainly affects people who use hand-held power
tools over a sustained period of time. Tools such as
grinders, hammers, pneumatic drills, chainsaws, sanding
machines, strimmer's or other similar machine tools can
all cause varying degrees of vibration induced injury.
It has been established for many years now that using
such tools on a regular basis during a sustained period
of time can cause injury. Employer's have/ a duty to
protect workers from harm by introducing time
constraints when using vibrating tools as well as
providing personal protective equipment (PPE's) to
reduce the effects of the vibration.
More on
Accident at
work compensation
Asthma caused by working conditions compensation
Claims
for dermatitis and skin conditions caused by
negligence
If your employer has failed to prevent or
safeguard against your injuries then you may be entitled
to make a claim.
Useful links:
Jobcentre Plus benefits information website
-
Direct Gov -
Asbestos related disease statistics from HSE
FROM APIL this week - "There was movement on the
pleural plaques issue in Parliament. Gordon Brown,
answering a question on pleural plaques at Prime
Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, announced that the
Government is going to publish a consultation document
soon’. Mr Brown said we have to do more to help the
victims’ of mesothelioma and asbestosis and declared
that the Government are determined to take some
action’." [April 2008]
The
new
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007
SI No 320 (CMD 2007) came into force in Great Britain
during 2007 and aim to reduce the number of construction
related accidents and injuries. [December 2007]
Government outline new plans to reduce the numbers of
those claiming inappropriate sickness benefits -
27th November 2007
HSE warn construction bosses to get serious when it
comes to falls and trips on building sites [18th
July 2007]
Argos sofas alleged to have caused skin complaints -
sufferers seeking compensation - 30.09.07
Legal advice covering the whole of the UK -
including Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham,
Bradford, Hull, Bristol, Cardiff, Newport, Liverpool &
Merseyside, Newcastle, Sunderland and the North East. |
