Occupational Pneumoconiosis Claims

Pneumoconiosis is one of the most deadly diseases that an individual could risk contracting at their places of work. Pneumoconiosis is a chronic disease of the lungs, which is caused by frequent exposure to miners, sandblasters and industrial metal grinders and often results in Occupational Pneumoconiosis Claims.

Individuals who are exposed to regular inhalation of dust particles, such as iron oxides comprising of rusts and fillings are usually the ones who end up contracting pneumoconiosis. Some other harmful components, which are responsible for contraction of this disease, include silicates, such as talc and rock dust and carbonates, such as coal dust. These dust particles are accumulated in the lungs of employees who work at construction sites, thus leading to formation of fibrous nodules. As the disease becomes severe, these fibrous nodules tend to replace the elastic lung tissues.
 
This consecutive loss of lung function can be characterised by shortness of breath and constant wheezing and coughing. Moreover, people who suffer from pneumoconiosis are at an increased risk of contracting other severe diseases, such as tuberculosis and cor pulmonale. Pneumoconiosis is a serious occupational hazard for employees who work in mines. This is the reason why it is also known as miner’s disease.

The number of deaths, which are caused every year because of pneumoconiosis, has been increasing steadily every year. The period ranging from 1968 to 2000, approximately 128, 846 deaths were reported which were caused because of pneumoconiosis alone. There has been an increased awareness regarding the disease. After studying the current trend, scientists believe that pneumoconiosis will be responsible for another 10,000 deaths in UK alone within the next decade. This is the reason why a large number of people have raised awareness against this deadly occupational hazard. Laws have been formulated in order to protect the interests of people who work in mines. This is done particularly because these people are exposed to harmful substances on an everyday basis as a part of their work nature.

With the increased awareness, survivors of pneumoconiosis have started filing Occupational Pneumoconiosis Claims against the mine owners and their employers alleging that they were exposed to dangerous working conditions. These working conditions are breeding sites for developing deadly diseases, such as pneumoconiosis, asbestosis and lung cancer among others. Employees, now enjoy legal rights to demand compensation from their employers in case they contract severe health problems, such as pneumoconiosis while working in the mines and chemical factories.