Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
What occupations are at risk of silicosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Our industrial disease experts share which occupations are at risk for silicosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, due to potential exposure that can occur in the workplace.
Silicosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis are industrial diseases that impact lung function. Silicosis is caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust and hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs if your lungs develop an immune response – hypersensitivity - to something you breathe in, such as mould or the shed skin cells from animals with fur, which results in inflammation of the lung tissue.
People who work in the following industries are particularly at risk for silicosis:
- Stone masonry and stone cutting: This is particularly the case when working with sandstone.
- Construction and demolition: – This is from being exposed to concrete and paving materials.
- Worktop manufacturing and fitting.
- Pottery, ceramics and glass manufacturing.
- Mining and quarrying.
- Sand blasting.
Whilst those who are at larger risk of developing hypersensitivity pneumonitis may work in the following occupations:
- Farmers.
- Bird breeders.
- Poultry handlers.
- Veterinary workers.
- Animal handlers.
- Grain and flour processors.
- Woodworkers and workers in some chemical and electronics industries.
What are the symptoms experienced?
The symptoms of silicosis can take several years to develop, and you may not notice any problems until after you've stopped working with silica dust. Silicosis usually develops after being exposed to silica for 10-20 years, although it can sometimes develop after 5-10 years of exposure. Occasionally, it can occur after only a few months of very heavy exposure.
Symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be acute or chronic. Acute symptoms come on within a few hours of being around an allergen and can last a few hours or days. Chronic symptoms can develop slowly and get worse over time. Those symptoms can include tightness of the chest, breathlessness, unexplained weight loss and even a flu-like illness reoccurring during the working week.
How can Slater and Gordon help
By law, every employer has a duty of care to protect employees from suffering harm in the workplace. This includes providing the right precautions for diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and silicosis. If your employer failed to foresee the harm that could be caused by your occupation, or failed to provide the correct protective gear needed, they could be said to have failed in their duty of care.
The health and safety regulations highlights that all employees are entitled to being kept safe in the workplace.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis claims and silicosis claims are specialised areas of the law and therefore require solicitors who have extensive experience and understanding of these complex claims.
Our expert industrial disease solicitors understand the impact that a diagnosis such as these can have on victims and their families and aim to be as considerate and supportive as possible throughout the claims process.
Contact us on 0330 107 6498 or online here for more information.
