There’s a tendency for upland Scots, particularly those in the Central Belt, to think about the Scottish Borders as a rural idyll where most working people are employed in agriculture and the associated industries.
Of course, the reality is quite different. The Scottish Borders is indeed an historic center for the textile industry. However, the traditional industries like textiles and agriculture are now joined by progressive, modern businesses across the region.
The Scottish Borders’ landscape today is home to a growing number of businesses in a variety of industrial sectors such as construction, manufacturing, creative industries, design, pharmaceuticals, food and drink and telecommunications.
Within most, if not all of these industries, there are occupations which are likely to have the harmful and unwanted capacity to cause industrial disease. Industrial disease is illness resulting from exposure over a period of time to an occupational hazard existing within the workplace.
The nature of the occupational hazard will of course vary quite widely according to the type of work being carried out. It could be a harmful substance ingested by the employee, like dust or fumes that may arise in manufacturing or agriculture. Equally, it could be a harmful activity common in construction, like the use of a vibrating tool of some sort. Or it could be a harmful environment, like a noisy factory, a concert venue or nightclub, or a call center.
Prolonged exposure to such harmful working conditions increases the risk of a serious impact on an individual’s body and their general health. This will not only affect their ability to work and function normally, but can cause pain resulting from the injury as well as financial loss.
Having an industrial disease can make the victim feel like they have completely lost control over their life.
If you believe that you or a loved one is suffering from an industrial disease, it’s essential that you seek the proper medical, financial and legal advice to regain control. From a legal point of view if you have developed an illness or disease because your employer exposed you to something harmful, then you could be entitled to compensation. You might also be able to help to prevent someone else becoming ill in the same way.
At Thompsons we have unrivalled specialist industrial disease teams with experience of fighting for the rights of people who have been negligently exposed to harmful substances and conditions at work. Over the years we have successfully acted for huge numbers of clients who have suffered from occupational respiratory disease, hand arm vibration disease, industrial deafness, skin disease and many more.
We also recognise that people only seek advice from a compensation solicitor when they have been through a traumatic or painful experience and feel they have no choice. That’s why our solicitors are sympathetic, approachable and do their utmost to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for you, in the shortest possible time.
It’s this expertise and specialist service that we will bring to the people in Galashiels and the Scottish Borders. If you or a loved one is affected, don’t suffer in silence. – get in touch today.