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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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Personal injury compensation can be payable for a wide range of work-related illnesses, a number of which are related to chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD).
COPD is also known as chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD), chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), chronic airflow limitation (CAL) and chronic obstructive respiratory disease (CORD), all of which are related to inflammatory diseases of the lungs, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
The primary risk factor for developing COPD is smoking cigarettes but even non-smokers who have been exposed to certain dusts and chemicals in the workplace may have the symptoms of shortness of breath because of an obstructed airflow. Workers who smoke will increase their chances of becoming ill.
A number of substances are believed to be possible causes of sufficient dust to affect the breathing of those who come into close contact with it. These include cadmium, coal, cotton, grain and flour, minerals, organic dust, silica and welding fumes.
It is believed more than one in 50 of the UK's population suffers from COPD and that figure is hardly surprising when the number of smokers is linked to the variety of industries where sufficient dust or fumes are created to constitute a hazard.
These include agriculture, mining, construction, bakers, textile workers, stonemasons, welders, petroleum workers and those involved in rubber and plastics manufacture.
Workers in some of the occupations are at risk of developing other work-related diseases, affecting their lungs, such as fume fever, pneumonia and occupational asthma.
Employers are expected to provide the best protection possible for employees to prevent their health deteriorating as a result of their working conditions. Masks and self-contained breathing sets should be supplied to all those who need them and full training in their effective use given.
Preventing the dust, fumes or irritant gas from being in the atmosphere of the workplace is better than having to deal with its after-effects and managers should be encouraged to use wet techniques where possible and, if possible, change raw materials and procedures.
Good ventilation systems in an indoor work area are important as is general cleanliness of equipment and tools. Employees can help themselves, too, by working 'gently' to reduce the creation of dust and clearing with a vacuum cleaner or hose rather than a brush or compressed air which may spread the dust further.
If an employer has deliberately neglected to provide safe working conditions for someone who develops COPD as a result of their employment, he may be liable to pay compensation for suffering and loss of earnings because the worker is disabled through an industrial illness.
Personal injury compensation with YouClaim
Should you or a close loved one believe COPD has been contracted as a result of employment, a personal injury compensation claim may be appropriate and this is where YouClaim can help.
All our solicitors are experienced in advising and representing victims of work-related illness and accidents which were not the fault of the worker but rather the employer failing in its health and safety obligations.
Being monitored by Solicitors Regulation Authority, you can be assured YouClaim's lawyers have the highest professional standards which they exercise with care and consideration for claimants.
What's more, in most cases, the no win no fee system can be used, meaning that 100% of all compensation won is payable to the claimant without deductions.
For all inquiries about personal injury compensation, both work-related and other situations, you can call our friendly legal team on 0800 10 757 95 to find out more.
