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Although you might think of rosin as a harmless substance used by violinists to ease the friction of playing or to help gymnasts keep their grip, due to its varied industrial applications some workers who come into contact with this resinous product can develop asthma caused by colophony, which is another name for the substance.
Among the industries where colophony may be a raw product are the manufacture of printing inks, varnishes, adhesives, soap, paper sizing, soda, soldering fluxes and sealing wax.
This versatile turpentine-like substance is extremely flammable and its constituent abietic acid is a weak contact allergen. However, the most potential for personal injury are the fumes released when it is melted as a component of flux.
Soldering components together is an essential part of the manufacture of most electronic equipment and one which has grown in importance as the industry has developed in the last 50 years. The numbers of people likely to suffer from asthma brought on by exposure to colophony is, therefore, also likely to increase.
Asthma is a respiratory disease where narrowing of the air passages leads to chest tightening, wheeziness and nasal irritation. Children can be born with asthma and there are a number of causes but at least 15% of sufferers are believed to have developed their symptoms through exposure to contaminants in the workplace.
Hundreds of raw materials, ranging from sawdust to flour, have been identified as having the potential to cause asthma in sensitive individuals. Fumes such as those from glues or hairsprays can also be a health hazard to employees.
If asthma caused by colophony is suspected, an early diagnosis should help to prevent symptoms worsening and becoming disabling. Treatment is likely to include a reduction in exposure to the harmful substance and the employer should be alerted to the diagnosis.
Once a person has been sensitised to colophony, their condition is likely to worsen and may cause permanent disablement if they continue to inhale the fumes.
Employers have a statutory duty to protect their workers from industrial illnesses, such as asthma caused by colophony, and should be aware of their responsibilities. Changes in work practices may enable soldering to continue in a less hazardous situation, including the installation of a fume extraction system to remove the poisonous substances from the work station.
Personal injury claims for asthma caused by colophony
If you have become ill as a result of working in an unsafe environment and the conditions were not your fault, you may have grounds for making a personal injury compensation claim with the no win no fee solicitors of YouClaim.
Our panel of expert solicitors work throughout the UK to help people such as yourself who have suffered from disabling conditions as a result of their employment. If you decide to consult us, you can expect a professional, helpful service at all times and the peace of mind which comes from knowing that all our personal injury lawyers are monitored by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
What's more, with our no win no fee pledge, you are protected from having to pay any legal fees or costs, whatever the outcome of the case.
If you would like more information about the possibility of making a damages claim for asthma caused by colophony, you can contact us through the claim form on this web page or call free and speak to one of our friendly legal advisers on 0800 10 757 95.
