Asthma affects millions of people in the UK and most believe they have the condition due to genetics, air pollution or hay fever. However, Occupational Asthma can be caused by inhaling airborne substances in the workplace such as dust, vapour, gases, fumes, flour and powders.

There are many industries that can cause or exacerbate Occupational Asthma. Some of the common ones are:

• Agriculture​
• Food preparation
• Cleaning
• Engineering
• Hairdressing
• Printing
• Motor vehicle repair
• Woodworking

Your employer has a legal responsibility to protect the health and safety of their employees and if they do not put adequate safety measures in place, such as ventilation, then they can be liable for your illness and you should seek compensation.

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Symptoms of Occupational Asthma can include a shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in your chest, coughing and Asthma attacks.

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If you believe you have developed Occupational Asthma, or your condition has been made worse by your employment you should contact us today for a free, no obligation discussion so we can assess the options available to you.

Thousands of people every year suffer with back pain, or back injuries, as a result of their working environment. You may have felt a twinge in your back or have suffered with a back condition for years. If your workplace has caused, or exacerbated your back condition you may be eligible to claim compensation.

Employers have a legal duty to protect your health and safety whilst you are at work, so with jobs where there is manual handling or heavy lifting there should be regular risk assessments and safety measures put in place to remove or minimise any hazard.

Back injuries can be caused a number of ways. The most common is through repetition – manual handling on a regular basis such as working on a production line, in a warehouse or in a factory, where a regular movement is performed. Another common cause is through an isolated incident, where you have suffered a back injury by performing an individual task such as lifting a heavy weight without the correct training.

If you believe you are suffering from a back injury caused by work you should contact us without delay for a free, no obligation discussion so we can assess the options available to you.

Vibration White Finger (VWF), also known as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), is an industrial injury which is triggered by use of hand-held vibrating machinery. It affects the blood vessels, nerves, muscles and joints of the hand, wrist and arm and symptoms can vary from tingling or numbness in the fingers, blotching of the colour of your skin, and loss of dexterity (which can get worse in cold weather).

The symptoms can be very painful and can worsen or become permanent if your exposure continues over months or years.

Typical tools that can cause VWF are angle grinders, pneumatic drills, polishers, chain saws and sanders.

To prevent suffering from VWF your employer should provide adequate protection, usually in the form of anti-vibration gloves, and regular breaks to minimise exposure.

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If you believe you have developed vibration white finger as a result of your working environment you may be eligible to claim compensation for the condition.

Occupational Dermatitis is one of the most widespread conditions of ill-health in the workplace and can be caused by coming into contact with irritating substances or allergens. The list of substances that can cause dermatitis is quite extensive and can include, but not limited to, cleaning products, lubricants, solvents/inks, paint/varnishes, dust, oils, petrol/diesel and soaps etc. It can also be caused by everyday objects like coins, rubber/latex gloves and some alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

The symptoms of Occupational Dermatitis can manifest as red, sore, dry or cracked skin, which can lead to bleeding, blisters, oozing and scarring, and it can occur anywhere on the body, not just on the hands. Your employer owes a duty of care to protect you from any risks whilst working with substances that could cause dermatitis, and you should be given protective equipment for working with hazardous materials.

If you believe you are suffering from Occupational Dermatitis you should contact us without delay for a free, no obligation discussion so we can assess the options available to you.

Asbestosis is a chronic condition that affects the lungs and it occurs as a result of exposure to asbestos, which was widely used for insulation and fire protection in industries such as shipbuilding, construction, mining and engineering.

If you have been previously exposed to asbestos and suffer from shortness of breath, a tight chest, coughing or general chest pain it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Exposure to the fibres of asbestos can cause respiratory conditions like asbestosis, pleural thickening, mesothelioma and lung cancer. The symptoms for asbestos-related conditions can take years, sometimes decades, to develop so even if you have not been exposed to asbestos for a long time it could still be these deadly fibres causing your ill health.

Compensation for Asbestosis can be pursued even if you were exposed many year’s ago, however, you only have 3 years to start your claim once you are aware you have the condition. It is therefore vital you start your claim as soon as you become aware you have the condition. This is usually when you are diagnosed by a medical professional.

Contact us today for a free, no obligation discussion so we can assess the options available to you.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a term used to cover a broad range of upper limb conditions and soft tissue injuries caused by, or made worse by the repetition of an action at work. It is common in many different job roles and can result in serious pain, cramp, numbness, tingling, weakness and loss of dexterity in the affected joint or limb and can sometimes make simple tasks like fastening clothes difficult.

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In real terms, almost any repetitive movement or overuse of a certain muscle could cause RSI and your employer has a legal duty to protect your health and safety by providing protective equipment and regular breaks away from the repetitive movement.

Both white collar workers and blue-collar workers are susceptible to RSI and symptoms often present themselves when the manual task is being performed. Often then symptoms dissipate once the task has been performed but can reappear at any time, especially when the repetitive task is carried out again.

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Typical industries where RSI is prevalent can include manufacturers, production line workers, assembly line workers and data inputters.

If you believe you are suffering from RSI you should contact us without delay for a free, no obligation discussion so we can assess the options available to you.