Personal Injury Solicitors

COPD is a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing issues. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both COPDs. COPD happens when the lungs and airways are damaged and inflamed as a result of long-term exposure to harmful substances such as cigarette smoke, which is the main cause of COPD, but can also be caused by exposure to certain types of dust and chemicals at work.

Pulmonary fibrosis is an interstitial lung disease which means that it affects the tissues that support the lung system. Some examples of the disease caused by working conditions include Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, which is sometimes known as ‘farmer’s lung’ (caused by breathing in mould on hay or straw), or ‘bird fancier’s lung’ (when caused by breathing in dust from bird droppings or feathers). Another common workplace form of pulmonary fibrosis is Pneumoconiosis, which is caused by breathing in certain dusts, resulting in scarring.

Silicosis is a long term disease of the lungs caused by inhaling silica dust usually over a number of years. Silicosis usually develops between 10-20 years of exposure but can develop as soon as 5-10 years. Our team has experience in a number of cases dealing with silicosis diagnoses, and can offer practical advice.

Occupational asthma is caused by breathing in substances at work such as dust, chemicals, fumes and animal fur. We can help bring a claim against an employer if we can prove causation from exposure to allergens – including exposure to dust, chemicals, fumes or other substances. Our team is experienced in working with occupational asthma claims, and can provide expert advice.

Your employer is under a duty to assess any risks in your work to ensure that if it is repetitive by nature, you are given sufficient breaks or job rotation. If we can establish, using independent medical evidence, that your job is repetitive and that you have developed an injury as a result, you may be entitled to recover compensation

When hearing loss has been caused by exposure to excessive noise during employment, the law may allow you to bring a claim for compensation if it can be shown that the employer had been negligent is failing to safeguard against excessive noise. The personal injury team at Poole Alcock Solicitors is experienced in obtaining compensation for work-related hearing loss.

An employer has a duty to eliminate or reduce exposure to vibration to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. If an employer is found to have been negligent, or breached a duty of care, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the injury. Our team of work injury solicitors can help claim for loss of earnings, travel expenses from medical appointments, treatment costs and care and assistance costs.

Compensation for Work-Related Dermatitis or Skin Problems We can help deal with claims regarding skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, ringworm and psoriasis that are caused by working conditions and situations including exposure to irritants, ‘wet working’ and aggravation of conditions caused by accidents.

You may be considering a claim following the loss of a partner, parent or child. You or somebody else may have been dependent upon that person and it is important that you receive the right advice before making a claim.