There are many hazardous substances that can cause lung cancer. Because the number of substances is so high and because they are found in so many different materials, there are several industries that put workers at high risk of the disease.
Does my job put me at risk of lung cancer?
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recently carried out an extensive research project into occupational lung cancer, identifying the known risk factors and occupations that were at the highest risk of being affected.
The jobs highlighted by the study include the following:
- Working with asbestos
- Tin mining
- Iron and steel founding
- Painting and decorating
- Chemists
- Welding
- Construction
- Aerospace industry
- Chimney sweeps
- Masonry
- Petrochemical industry
- Professional drivers
- Railroad workers and railway carriage construction workers
Because lung cancer has a long latency period, meaning that it takes a long time between the initial exposure and for the victim to develop and show symptoms, the cases that are only now coming to the fore relate to exposure that took place in the workplace twenty to thirty years ago.
Chief among these emerging cases are cancers caused by exposure to asbestos, the use of which is now banned in the UK. Because it's no longer in use, cases of asbestos-related cancer are expected to fall in the coming years (the peak of asbestos-related deaths is expected to be around 2020). Looking to the future, the HSE predicts that the jobs in which the workers' risk of developing lung cancer is highest will involve exposure to silica, diesel fumes, solar radiation, shift work, and paint and welding fumes.
Can I claim compensation for my lung cancer?
If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, it is undoubtedly an upsetting time for you and your family. You may also feel a great sense of injustice if the disease was caused by unsafe working conditions of the past. The serious symptoms of lung cancer can be extremely difficult to live, and if your suffering has been caused, at least in part, by another person, you should not have to deal with the illness without receiving the fair amount of recompense. Thompsons Solicitors can help you make a claim for the compensation you deserve.
Thompsons Solicitors will approach your case with sensitivity and honesty, guiding you along the potentially complicated path with their straightforward expert advice. With years of experience tackling many personal injury claims, we are confident that our lawyers have all the skills necessary to successfully handle your case.
Start your compensation claim with a legal expert from Thompsons today. Call us on 0800 0891331 for no win no fee help and advice, and we will do everything we can to achieve justice for you and your family.
