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Teflon ® Related Illness - Polymer Fume Fever

If you are suffering from an industrial illness or disease caused by exposure to Teflon® fumes, you may be entitled to claim compensation.  Our specialist personal injury solicitors can provide expert claim advice and assistance, so contact us on 0800 032 8511 or by completing a claim enquiry form.

Teflon®
Exposure to PTFE Fumes
Claims for Teflon Related Illness
Polymer Fume Fever Compensation
Specialist Industrial Disease Claim Advice

Teflon®

Teflon® or PTFE is used as a heatproof coating in many situations.  Under normal use it is not considered harmful, however when heated to very high temperatures it can begin to break down and release harmful fumes.

It is therefore important that companies dealing with Teflon® do so in accordance with guidelines and regulations to prevent harm to their employees and the public.  There are a number of regulations in place, including the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH).

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Exposure to PTFE Fumes

Polymer fume fever can occur when pyrolytic products of fluorocarbon polymers are inhaled.  This has been known to have occurred in workplaces that manufacture plastics and chemicals and where electronic boards are used.  In some cases, polymer particles have even contaminated cigarettes rolled or smoked in the workplace.

The symptoms can begin within hours of exposure and are similar in nature to flu.  Usually these last only a few days, however in cases of repeated, prolonged exposure lung damage can occur.

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Claims for Teflon Related Illness

If the negligence of your employer or another party has caused you to suffer an illness or injury related to PTFE exposure, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim for compensation.  Anyone who has been exposed to an irritant or hazardous substance and suspects that this may have caused a personal injury or industrial disease, should seek medical advice immediately.  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.

If a family member has died from a disease caused by exposure to Teflon®, it may still be possible to make a claim posthumously.

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Polymer Fume Fever 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, walk the dog, 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 or injury, so that these can be reclaimed.  The aim is to put you back in a position financially as if the exposure to Teflon® or PTFE had never occurred.

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Specialist Industrial Disease Claim Advice

             

At The Legal Line, our lawyers specialise in all areas of personal injury, including industrial disease.  They can provide expert advice and assistance in reviewing your case and working towards the best possible outcome.

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