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Occupational Asthma Claims

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Asthma is a breathing disorder caused by the narrowing of the airways.  Common symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness across the chest.  Although symptoms vary in intensity, they can be very distressing, and in the most severe cases the condition can be fatal.  Fortunately, the condition can generally be controlled with medication.   Although, some people suffer from asthma as a hereditary condition, it can also be caused at any time in life by a person’s life style and environment

Examples of substances known to cause or exacerbate asthma are:

► Spray paint   ► Dust
► Glues and resins   ► Welding fumes
► Flour and grain   ► Gases
► Wood dust   ► Sandblasting dust
► Latex    ► Solvent vapours and mists
► Enzymes    ► Isocyanates
► Animal fur   ► Colophony
► Chlorine

It is recognised that these substances can be harmful to employees and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), dictate that employers must control potentially harmful substances in the workplace.  These regulations place on employers a number of duties such as they must eliminate or minimise the risk of exposure to these potentially hazardous substances; provide their employees with the appropriate personal protective equipment; and conduct a regular health surveillance of their employees, including regular lung functions tests.

Unfortunately, there are still many workers which are exposed, in breach of health and safety law to substances through their working environment, which are known to cause asthma or exacerbate an existing asthmatic condition.  Removing the individual from the harmful source can reverse the condition, but prolonged exposure can lead to chronic lung disease.  In addition to asthma individuals can develop other lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.  It is important to be aware that the symptoms of asthma can present themselves up to 25 years after first exposure.

Choosing the right solicitor to pursue your claim is particularly important in these types of cases, as specialist knowledge and expertise are required.  We guarantee that through us, your claim will be pursued by a firm of solicitors with the necessary specialist knowledge, expertise and experience, to give your claim the best chance of success.  

So, if you are concerned that you are or have been exposed to harmful substances at work, and believe you have developed the symptoms of asthma or that your symptoms of an existing asthmatic condition have got worse; then please call the free phone number 0800 731 2586 or complete the online enquiry form for free, confidential, no obligation advice, because you can probably bring a claim against your employer for compensation.