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What is Silica?
About Silica
What is Silicosis?
About Silicosis
Types of Silicosis
Chronic Silicosis, Acute Silicosis and Accelerated Silicosis
Common Symptoms of Silicosis
Health Problems Associated with Silicosis
Treatment of Silicosis
Medical treatment for sufferers of Silicosis
Silicosis Compensation Claim Advice
How to make a Silicosis Compensation Claim
Silica is a very common mineral found in sand and rocks such as granite, sandstone, flint and slate, and in some coal and metallic ores. When these rocks are cut, broken, drilled or crushed a fine silica dust can be produced which is hazardous to health. People who work with these materials, as well as foundry workers, potters and sandblasters, are most at risk of developing silicosis as a result of their exposure to silica.
If you are diagnosed as suffering from silicosis after being exposed to silica at work you may be entitled to make a silicosis compensation claim.
Silicosis is a completely preventable but incurable respiratory disease which is, fortunately, now rare in the UK. It is caused by inhaling silica dust (or‘chrystalline’ silica). If this dust is inhaled, small particles of it can become embedded into parts of the lung and cannot be cleared by mucous or coughing. The dust is toxic to the lining of the lungs causing a strong inflammatory reaction. Eventually, this causes the lung tissue to become irreversibly thickened and scarred - a condition known as fibrosis. This scar tissue prevents the lungs from taking in oxygen properly.
Serious exposure to high levels of silica can cause disease within a year, but it usually takes at least 10 - 15 years of exposure before symptoms occur. The longer the interval between exposure and the onset of symptoms, the slower the disease tends to progress.
If you are diagnosed as suffering from silicosis after being exposed to silica at work you may be entitled to make a silicosis compensation claim.
There are three main types of silicosis: Chronic, Accelerated and Acute
This is the most common form of silicosis and it results from long-term exposure (usually more than 20 years) to low levels of silica dust. It may cause breathing problems and result in a dry cough (with or without pain) but it may take a long time for symptoms to appear. By the time symptoms do appear, the lungs have already suffered widespread change. A chest X-ray is then necessary to discover what lung damage has occurred.
If you are diagnosed as suffering from chronic silicosis after being exposed to silica at work you may be entitled to make a silicosis compensation claim.
People who suffer from accelerated silicosis have usually been exposed to a higher level of silica over a shorter period of time, normally between five to fifteen years. Swelling in the lungs and symptoms occur faster than in chronic silicosis. These symptoms can include severe shortness of breath, weakness, and weight loss.
If you are diagnosed as suffering from accelerated silicosis after being exposed to silica at work you may be entitled to make a silicosis compensation claim.
This is a rarer form of the disease and symptoms develop quickly after only a short period of exposure to high levels of silica dust. This can lead to immediate damage. The first symptoms of acute silicosis are breathlessness and a dry cough which gradually gets worse despite treatment. The lungs become very inflamed and can fill with fluid causing severe shortness of breath. Prognosis depends on the amount of dust retained before exposure stopped but this acute form of the disease is often fatal.
If you are diagnosed as suffering from acute silicosis after being exposed to silica at work you may be entitled to make a silicosis compensation claim.
All types of silicosis cause damage to the lung tissue. Symptoms include a cough, which is sometimes dry, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest tightness and pain and loss of appetite. Patients may lose weight, have severe trouble breathing and cough up blood as the disease progresses. If you have silicosis you are also more susceptible to other respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis. There may also be an increased risk of lung cancer in workers who have been exposed to silica.
If you are diagnosed as suffering from silicosis after being exposed to silica at work you may be entitled to make a silicosis compensation claim.
There is no effective treatment for silicosis and no cure. Prevention by way of medical monitoring and changes to working practices are essential. The outcome of the disease varies depending on the amount of damage to the lungs. For example, acute silicosis is treated with a high dose of steroids, but the prognosis is generally poor. Most treatments are aimed at alleviating symptoms and halting the progress of the disease.
Some treatments can be given to reduce inflammation and improve lung function and oxygen therapy can be provided to help with breathing difficulties. Antibiotics can be prescribed for respiratory infections. However, it is important that silica exposure stops immediately to prevent the disease from getting worse. A person with silicosis should also limit exposure to other irritants, e.g. quit smoking, which may speed up the progress of the disease. Immunisation against flu and pneumococcal infection is recommended.
If you are diagnosed as suffering from silicosis after being exposed to silica at work you may be entitled to make a silicosis compensation claim.
If you or someone you know has developed silicosis or any other industrial disease, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.