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Thompsons Solicitors
Occupational Asthma Compensation for Factory Employee Exposed to Chemicals
4th July 2011
An electrical engineer was left permanently affected by occupational asthma because he was exposed to hazardous chemicals in the course of his work. Our specialist industrial disease lawyers acted on his behalf in a personal injury claim against his former employer.
Chemical Fumes in the Workplace
Our client was employed at a factory, maintaining the electrical equipment. The processes in the factory involved the use of a lot of chemicals and in some areas fumes and vapours would escape into the atmosphere. The chemicals were not used in enclosed systems, but many of the roof fans were not functioning and there were incidents when the venting system was leaking, so the fumes were not properly extracted. Despite this, he was not provided with any personal protective equipment to prevent him from inhaling the escaping fumes.
As a result of breathing in these fumes, our client became sensitised to the chemicals and he began to suffer asthma attacks. Some of his colleagues also experienced similar symptoms. He was excluded from certain areas but the attacks continued and his condition eventually became so severe that he had to be treated at hospital and was signed off work altogether. He was unable to return and his employment was subsequently terminated.
Because of his occupational asthma, our client will never be able to work in certain industries and this restricts his job options. He has to take medication on a permanent basis, he continues to suffer regular symptoms and he can no longer manage the same amount of physical exercise as he could before.
Industrial Disease Claim
Our client felt that his employer could have done more to protect his health and safety and this would have prevented his work-related illness from developing. He therefore appointed us to pursue a personal injury claim on his behalf.
We began the case and put forward evidence from our client, witnesses and the HSE, to show that his employer was negligent. They did not admit liability however and it was necessary for us to commence Court proceedings. We were able to negotiate a compensation settlement before the case went to trial though and secured £50,000 on behalf of our client, after rejecting initial, lower offers made by the defendants.
Compensation Claim Advice
If you have developed a respiratory disease because of your working conditions, you may be entitled to pursue an injury claim. Our specialist personal injury lawyers have a wealth of experience in industrial accident and industrial illness cases and we can provide you with the best possible advice.
Contact The Legal Line on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online, for expert advice on a cost-free basis.
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