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One commonly overlooked construction accidents fact is that extremely dangerous, welding rod fumes given off by manganese in the rods can cause Parkinson's disease and several other serious nervous system disorders. This has been a well-known fact for over 150 years and a condition called 'manganism' was first introduced in 1837.
When the connection between welding and Parkinson's was first exposed, there was a huge cover-up operation as manufacturing and production companies around the world tried to conceal the fact that they could be responsible for producing the disease in their workers.
Suddenly, the upper hierarchies of these companies were seized by an endemic fear of being overwhelmed with work accident compensation claims.
Desperate not to lose thousands of pounds of profit, the claims were hotly denied for some time. Even well into the Eighties, sketchy health and safety information about welding rod injuries was only supplied if workers applied for it.
As welding joins metal together through heat and pressure, it can be one of the most dangerous industrial activities and the cause of many construction accidents. Excessive exposure to toxic fumes is one thing welding rod workers are routinely exposed to, along with fire and electric shocks. Without adequate ventilation, welding can be deadly.
Types of metal that cause welding injuries and work accident claims
The various types of toxic metals that can cause personal injury to welders include:
Causes of dangerous fumes
Fumes emitted during welding can be the result of base material being welded; coatings and paint being
welded; gases supplied from cylinders; chemical reactions from ultraviolet light; consumables used and
contaminants in the air.
Symptoms of manganism
Manganism is a toxic condition resulting from chronic exposure to manganese and inhaling fumes.
Manufacturers are obliged to state whether manganese exists in their products due to this resulting
condition.
Symptoms of manganism include shaking, tremors and involuntary spasms, adopting a strange way of walking, poor memory retention, memory loss, slurred speech, strange facial expressions, insomnia and restless sleep.
This deadly condition is also characterised by kidney damage, speech problems, decreased libido, emotional distress, muscle stiffness, brain damage and psychosis.
A high percentage of welders will suffer from manganism at some point in their working career.
Making a compensation claim for a construction accident
Workers in the manufacturing and production industries are continuously being exposed to dangerous
and toxic fumes that can seriously damage their health. If you have a workplace injury as the result of an
industrial accident or construction accident, you may be able to make a work accident claim.
Our panel of personal injury solicitors have an excellent success rate. They are experts in dealing in with work accident cases and will answer any questions you have in plain English, without using legal jargon.
Call our team on 0800 10 757 95 and we will talk you through the construction accident claim process.
