File Library

This booklet provides a clear overview of occupational asthma as a workplace-related lung condition caused or aggravated by exposure to dust, fumes, vapours, chemicals and other hazardous substances. It explains who may be at risk, the common symptoms and causes, and the practical steps both employers and workers should take to reduce exposure and respond promptly to warning signs. The booklet also highlights the legal duties placed on employers under health and safety legislation, the potential entitlement to benefits in some cases, and the importance of acting quickly given the three-year time limit that generally applies to raising a compensation claim.

This booklet provides an overview of asbestosis as a serious occupational lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibres, often many years before symptoms appear. It explains who may be at risk, the typical symptoms, how the condition is diagnosed medically and assessed legally, and the steps employers and workers should take to prevent or respond to exposure. The booklet also highlights important legal and practical considerations, including employers’ duties under health and safety and asbestos legislation, the potential availability of compensation and state benefits, and the need to seek legal advice promptly because claims are generally subject to a three-year time limit from diagnosis or date of knowledge.

This booklet explains pleural plaques as a non-cancerous condition affecting the lining of the lungs that arises from past asbestos exposure, often many years after contact in the workplace. It outlines who may be affected, how the condition develops, and why a diagnosis can still carry important legal significance even where there are no physical symptoms. The booklet also highlights employers’ duties to protect workers from asbestos exposure and stresses the need to obtain advice promptly, as claims in Scotland are generally subject to a three-year time limit. Importantly, it notes that pleural plaques are recognised in Scotland as actionable harm under the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009, meaning affected individuals may be entitled to pursue compensation.

This booklet provides an overview of mesothelioma as a serious and often life-limiting cancer caused by asbestos exposure, usually many years after contact in the workplace. It explains who may be at risk, how the disease develops, the common symptoms, and the steps affected individuals should take, including seeking urgent medical and legal advice. The booklet also highlights key legal issues in Scotland, including employers’ duties to prevent exposure, the right to pursue substantial compensation, the ability of families and estates to bring claims in certain circumstances, and the importance of acting quickly because claims are generally subject to a three-year time limit from diagnosis or awareness.

This booklet provides an overview of work-related strain and vibration injuries, explaining how repetitive tasks, heavy manual work and prolonged use of vibrating tools can lead to conditions such as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Dupuytren’s Contracture. It outlines who may be at risk, the common causes and symptoms, and the practical steps workers should take if problems arise. The booklet also highlights the legal duties on employers to assess risks, reduce exposure, provide suitable equipment and training, and monitor for early signs of injury, while noting that affected individuals in Scotland may be entitled to compensation if unsafe working conditions caused or contributed to their condition, subject to the usual three-year time limit.

This booklet provides a clear overview of industrial deafness, or noise-induced hearing loss, as a gradual but permanent condition caused by prolonged exposure to excessive workplace noise. It explains who may be at risk, how the condition develops, the part of the body affected, and the common symptoms that can significantly affect daily life. The booklet also outlines employers’ legal duties to assess and reduce noise exposure, provide hearing protection and training, and implement safe systems of work, while highlighting that individuals in Scotland may be entitled to compensation where negligent workplace exposure has caused hearing loss, subject to the usual three-year time limit for bringing a claim.

This booklet provides an overview of damp and mould claims, explaining how poorly maintained housing conditions can affect health and wellbeing, particularly by causing or worsening respiratory problems. It outlines who may be affected, the common causes of damp and mould, the symptoms that can arise from prolonged exposure, and the practical steps individuals should take to protect their health and preserve evidence. The booklet also highlights the legal responsibilities of landlords and property owners to keep properties safe and fit for habitation, and notes that in Scotland compensation may be available where injury has resulted from a failure to repair or maintain a property, subject to the usual three-year time limit for bringing a claim.