RESPIRATORY LUNG DISEASE COPD COMPENSATION CLAIMS

COPD and respiratory lung disease affects thousands of people every year and the consequences can have devastating effects on both work and family life. Our team of solicitors have detailed experience in dealing with industrial disease claims and are all members of The Law Society panel of personal injury experts. If you suffer from an injury which is as a result of your employer failing to take adequate care to protect you from this injury then we can help you to get the compensation you deserve. Specialist solicitors will initially assess your claim at no cost to you and will then deal with your claim using the no win no fee scheme. Your compensation will be paid in full with no deductions.

Respiratory diseases that may result from an unhealthy working environment includes:-

• Occupational Asthma
• Asbestosis
• Occupational Bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Mesothelioma
• Pleural Disease
• Pneumoconiosis
• Silicosis

Jobs associated with an increased risk of occupational respiratory disease include:
construction, carpentry, baking, soldering, laboratory work, hairdressing, bird breeding, milling, drug manufacture, nursing, food processing, textiles, forestry, horticulture and metalworking.
Occupations especially at risk:

• coalminers,
• farmers,
• asbestos workers,
• workers with epoxy resins or isocyanates.

Injury to the lungs occurring at work may be caused by inhalation of gases, fumes, vapours, dusts, or micro-organisms. The site and degree of the lung reaction is determined by a number of factors:

• the physical and chemical properties of the substance inhaled;
• the intensity and duration of exposure;
• the presence of pre-existing lung disease;
• individual differences in susceptibility.

The occupational diseases of the respiratory system are usually divided into three categories:

• those due to inorganic or mineral dusts;
• those due to organic dusts;
• those due to irritant gases and chemicals.

Many types of fumes and dusts can irritate the lungs stimulating increased mucus production and leading to cough and phlegm. People who already have a lung problem, such as asthma or bronchitis, are more susceptible to the effects of irritants. Some conditions result from an abnormally sensitive reaction of the body to dust and fumes. Once sensitisation has developed, even minute quantities of the substance, which would not cause harm to a nonsensitised individual, can present a serious hazard.

An employers is under a duty to reduce the risk of respiratory lung disease COPD and regulations are contained in "The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994" and other statutes. These Regulations require the employer to:-

• carry out an assessment of substances hazardous to health which should include:
  • an identification of the hazards and assessment of the risk to health;
  • consideration of prevention of exposure to the hazardous substances;
  • the steps which need to be taken to achieve adequate control of exposure where prevention is not reasonably practicable;
• identification of other action necessary to comply with the regulations
• operate a system of health surveillance.
• keep employees fully informed about risks and review procedures.
• control exposure and use controlling methods.
• install extractor fans.
• provide safety equipment.