Occupational disease

Occupational disease solicitors

Employers have a duty of care to their employees. As an employee, you should be safe in your place of work and protected from any health risks.

However, employers often fail to uphold the necessary health and safety standards – leading to work-related illnesses, also known as occupational or industrial disease.

The ill health caused by an employer’s negligence can be detrimental to an individual’s quality of life, and in some cases fatal. If you have been a victim of occupational disease then you may be entitled compensation.

Our team of specialist lawyers are experts in occupational disease and securing our clients the compensation they deserve. We also work on behalf of the relatives of individuals who have sadly died as a result of work-related illnesses.

What is occupational disease?

There are a variety of ways an employer can fail you as an employee, such as prolonged exposure to hazardous substances, failure to provide personal protective equipment, inadequate breaks or lack of training. Some working environments, such as factories, construction sites, shipyards and labs, will be more hazardous than others – but it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure their employees are protected.

An employer’s failure to do this can cause a number of illnesses and health conditions, including (but not limited to):

• Asbestos-related diseases – caused by exposure to asbestos and often extremely serious, these include mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural thickening and, in some cases, lung cancer
• Noise-related injuries and hearing loss – including tinnitus; exposure to excessive noise in the workplace can have a significant impact on a person’s hearing
• Vibration syndromes – overuse of vibrating machinery and tools, such as pneumatic drills, chainsaws and grinders, can have a seriously affect a person’s hands and lead to conditions such as hand arm vibration syndrome, vibration white finger and the development of carpal tunnel
• Cancer – particularly lung, bladder and skin cancer. Lung cancer is can be a result of asbestos exposure, while occupational bladder cancer is typically a result of unsafe exposure to industrial chemicals. Occupational skin cancer is often more difficult to detect, with many cases of delayed or missed diagnoses, and can be caused by exposure to chemicals, by-products, radiation and overexposure to sunlight
• Dermatitis – one of the most widespread conditions, dermatitis – including eczema – often affects workers who handle irritant chemicals or raw materials and metals, and those who are exposed to fiber glass or extreme weather conditions.

If you have an illness or health condition that you suspect was caused by negligence in the workplace, get in touch with the expert occupational disease solicitors at Verisona Law.