Chest (Respiratory) Disease

Last updated on January 8th, 2016 at 03:54 pm

What types of chest disease can result from the work environment?

Exposure to dust and fumes at work can cause several types of chest illnesses (diseases), including:

Emphysema
Pneumoconiosis
Silicosis
Chronic bronchitis
Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/chronic obstructive airways disease (known as COPD/COAD)

What types of jobs are most likely to result in chest disease?

The types of occupation where workers are most at risk of respiratory diseases include:

Construction
Mining
Textiles, leather and rubber
Plastics and synthetics manufacture
Spray painters
Welders
Bakers and flour confectioners

Whatever occupation you work in, your employer has a legal duty to ensure your health and safety and to provide adequate protection in potentially hazardous environments.

If you have suffered any of the above conditions as a result of your work environment, it may be possible to claim compensation from your employers.

We have a wealth of experience in dealing with compensation claims for people who have suffered chest disease, including acting for thousands of miners for whom we have made successful claims against British Coal/Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (previously Department for Trade and Industry (DTI)).