Call us on 0800 783 9019
Text ACCIDENT to 82010
Visit our UK 
Home > Personal Injury > Industrial Diseases > Pneumoconiosis diseases > Pneumoconiosis causes, diagnosis, treatment
Pneumoconiosis causes, diagnosis, treatment
Dealing with pneumoconiosis diseases
Pneumoconiosis is the term applied to a number of lung-related diseases that cause sufferers to experience a range of debilitating conditions.
- Causes of pneomoconiosis diseases
- Diagnosing pneumoconiosis diseases
- Preventing pneumoconiosis diseases
- Treatments for pneumoconiosis diseases
- Making a personal injury compensation claim for pneumoconiosis
Causes of pneumoconiosis diseases
Pneumoconiosis diseases result from the inhalation of a variety of materials that are used or created in a wide range of jobs and environments.
Asbestos, beryllium, vegetable fibres such as flax, hemp, cotton dust or sisal, coal dust, graphite, manmade carbon, silica dust, ammonia, have all been linked to the onset of a pneumoconiosis disease.
Non-organic substances such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, chloride and acid, have also been linked to the onset of a pneumoconiosis disease, though they typically contribute to a build up of fluid in the lungs rather than fibrous scar tissue on the lung wall.
Spores from moulds of hay, malt, mushrooms and barley, if exposure occurs over an extended period of time, can cause a severe allergic reaction in the sufferer, resulting in lung disease. Dust from cotton, flax or hemp used in the textile industry, cause histamines to be released, causing difficulty breathing due to the narrowing of the air passages.
Many of these materials known to cause these diseases are still widely used in a variety of workplaces where workers are at risk of exposure and developing a notifiable disease. These include:
- Abrasives manufacturing
- Asbestos removal
- Ceramics workers
- Fabric manufacturing
- Foundry workers
- Mining
- Quarrying
- Road and building construction
- Sand blasting
- Stone cutting
- Iron workers
[ Back to top ]
Diagnosing pneumoconiosis diseases
If you suspect you may be suffering from a pneumoconiosis disease, you should visit your GP and explain that you believe your work history may have caused you to be exposed to the dust from a material known to cause a pneumoconiosis disease in some cases.
If your GP agrees that you may be suffering from a notifiable disease, he may recommend you for lung function and CXR tests, as well as a CT scan. The results of these tests will diagnose and evaluate whether there is a build up of any material in your lungs, and if so, the extent of your damage. Confirmation of a pneumoconiosis disease would allow you to be referred to a specialist for further tests and advice.
Several of the symptoms presented by sufferers are common to many, if not all, of these diseases so it is important to seek expert medical treatment if you suspect you may have a pneumoconiosis disease.
Common symptoms include:
- tightness in the chest
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- a cough
However, some types of pneumoconiosis diseases demonstrate specific, individual symptoms, which your doctor will be able to identify.
[ Back to top ]
Preventing pneumoconiosis diseases
Some industries and working environments cannot be entirely made free of these hazardous substances, but many common sense preventative measures can be taken to ensure that exposure by workers is kept to an absolute minimum.
- Workers in environments where dust is generated should be provided with appropriate protection equipment, including a well fitting facemask
- Steps should be taken to reduce the levels of dust generated to a minimum
- Ventilation should be introduced and maintained to sufficient levels to ensure maximum extraction possible
- Adequate and appropriate training should be provided to all at risk workers regarding
- the washing down of dust laden areas
- the removal and washing of clothes that have been exposed to the dust
- the thorough cleaning of any part of the body that has been exposed to the dust
- the fact that dust can be transmitted into the mouth by contaminated food, smoking, drinking or taking medicine
There are several sections of legislation which are in place to provide employers with guidance on protecting their workers, and in the event that workers do develop a pneumoconiosis disease because of the negligence of their employer, that legislation will allow them to bring a claim for industrial disease compensation.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), and the Health and Safety Commission Approved Codes of Practice are two such sections of the legislation, and our personal injury lawyers are specialists in winning compensation for these types of claims.
[ Back to top ]
Treatments for pneumoconiosis diseases
Whilst there are some treatments for the individual diseases, the most important factor is to stop the exposure to the organic or non-organic dust that has caused the disease, either by providing adequate ventilation, or by removing the sufferer from the working environment.
[ Back to top ]
Making a personal injury compensation claim for pneumoconiosis
Strict time limits apply to making a claim for any type of personal injury, so please contact an experienced solicitor as soon as you think you may have a claim for compensation.
Please visit our section on information and advice for more details on making a personal injury compensation claim.
Whether your pneumoconiosis disease was caused by exposure at work or in a public place, you may still be entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation. Providing it can be proven that your injury was caused by your exposure to a harmful substance and the person or company who allowed you to be exposed to the chemical was negligent, then your claim for compensation should be valid.
Clear Answers’ lawyers will be able to advise you whether you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist industrial disease lawyers are experts in all personal injury matters and will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and answer any questions or queries you may have.
If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Clear Answers' solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. You will retain 100% of any compensation awarded to you for your injuries. Telephone us now on 0800 783 9019 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms one of our representatives will contact you as soon as possible.
[ Back to top ]
[ Back to industrial
disease index ]
