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Chronic Silicosis

If you or a member of your family is suffering from chronic silicosis, or acute silicosis, our specialist personal injury lawyers may be able to help you claim compensation. Contact us today on 0800 032 8511 for claim advice, or by completing a claim enquiry form.

Silicosis
Chronic Silicosis

Who is at Risk of Developing Chronic Silicosis?
Making a Compensation Claim
Chronic Silicosis Compensation
Specialist Industrial Disease Claim Advice

Silicosis

Silicosis is an industrial disease, caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust. It is most common in those that have been employed in certain industries, notably stone working, glass production, construction and mining.

Nodules of inflammation, scarring and fibrosis occur in the lungs as a reaction to the silica dust, restricting lung function and causing respiratory problems.

It is usually possible to diagnose silicosis via lung function tests, x-rays and bronchoscopies.  Silicosis causes damage to the lung tissue, which impairs lung function, making it difficult for them to supply enough oxygen to the blood.

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Chronic Silicosis

Chronic silicosis is the most common form of the disease, generally caused through prolonged exposure to silica, usually over many years. The symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath and general chest complaints.

The condition is incurable, but chronic silicosis is often manageable.  Further exposure to silica and other irritants (such as smoking) should be stopped and sufferers are often prescribed medication to suppress coughing and ease breathing.  Sometimes physiotherapy may be used to assist the drainage of mucus.

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Who is at Risk of Developing Chronic Silicosis?

As chronic silicosis takes occurs after long term exposure to silica dust and can take many years to develop, it usually affects people over the age of 40.  The disease affects more men than women as, historically they are more likely to have been exposed to silica through work.  People in certain professions are more likely to develop silicosis than others.  This includes:

• Sandblasting
• Pottery work
• Tunnelling
• Stonecutting
• Mining
• Quarrying
• Foundry work

Silicosis has now become less common in the UK than in the past, mainly due to improvements in health and safety measures and working conditions. Hopefully precautions such as masks, adequate ventilation and 'wet' drilling will help to further reduce the number of cases in the future.

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Making a Compensation Claim

Chronic silicosis is an industrial disease and these type of diseases do not show themselves quickly after exposure. They can take many years to develop. By then the person you need to make a claim against (perhaps an employer) may no longer be alive or in business. Pursuing these claims is complicated and is best dealt with by an experienced personal injury lawyer.

In every case, medical evidence will be required. Detailed expert evidence is often also required in disease cases to show that the condition suffered by a claimant was caused by exposure to a particular substance.

In any personal injury claim it is necessary to show that the person you are making a claim against owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care (were negligent), and that the injury you sustained was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence.

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Chronic Silicosis Compensation

There are two elements to a compensation award. The first is for the pain and suffering you may have gone through and what is known as loss of amenity. This is called general damages and can include an award for your inability to do things that you used to be able to do before (eg wash your car, look after your garden, take children to school etc). The award for loss of amenity can be for a short period or for ever if that is what the medical evidence supports.

The second element of a compensation award is for your losses and expenses and is known as special damages. It is important to keep receipts for any expenditure you have related to your illness, so that these can be reclaimed. The aim is to put you back in a position financially as if the chronic silicosis had never developed.

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Specialist Industrial Disease Claim Advice

If you or someone close to you is suffering from work related, chronic silicosis, caused by a current or former employer, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim. The Legal Line's specialist industrial disease lawyers can provide advice, guidance and assistance of the highest standard.

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