The term ‘industrial disease’ is used to describe a wide range of different medical problems which can occur as the result of using dangerous or inappropriate equipment at work, or being exposed to hazardous substances.
A small selection of some of the most frequently occurring conditions appears below. We have devoted a separate section of our site to asbestos-related diseases, which can also often be traced back to exposure in a working environment.
Allergies take many different forms, affecting different parts of the body. They range from ‘Farmer’s Lung’ (caused by breathing in the dust from mouldy crops), through to dermatitis, although this can be caused by irritant contact as well as allergy.
Asthma can have a wide range of causes. Some of those most commonly appearing in industrial disease claims include: flour, grain, laboratory animals, enzymes and latex.
Hearing difficulties have resulted in many industrial deafness claims in the past. These are becoming less common as technology improves and manufacturing environments become quieter.
Strain injuries come in all shapes and sizes. The term Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) has been in common use for many years although the proper terminology used to describe many of these injuries is Work Related Upper Limb Disorder (WRULD). One common symptom associated with claims for this type of injury is carpal tunnel syndrome but there are many others.
Vibration injuries most commonly occur where people are repeatedly using hand-held power tools such as chainsaws and pneumatic drills over a period of years. The term Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is now used although the disease is often still referred to as Vibration White Finger.
If you would like individual advice on any possible industrial disease claim, whether or not it is mentioned in the list above, please contact Simon Davis or Justina Molloy.
