Silicosis Compensation Claims

Get legal support to help with a claim for silicosis that was caused by a working environment, whether with an existing or a former employer.

Silicosis is a rare lung condition caused by excessive exposure to certain kinds of dust. Specifically, it's caused by the crystalline form of silicone dioxide, often found in dust of stone, brick, concrete, or sand.

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Why choose Irwin Mitchell to make a compensation claim for silicosis?

Wherever you work, your employer has a duty of care to protect you from health and safety risks. This includes exposure to silica dust. If you've been diagnosed with silicosis, you should consider whether it might’ve been caused by a current or former working environment.

You can get expert legal help from our experienced lawyers, who have pursued successful silicosis claims for workers and former workers in a variety of industries, including mining, construction, demolition, glass manufacturing and stone masonry.

We can also help you if the exposure happened decades ago, even if it was at a company that has gone out of business. Every employer has a duty to protect employees, no matter the industry—we can help if you have been let down.

We work with a number of charities and support groups such as Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis, and can put you in touch with the right network for you.

Speak to an expert

Our Silica Exposure Register

If you believe that you've been exposed to some form of silica dust at any point in your working life, but you don't currently have any symptoms or diagnosed conditions, it is important to make sure you keep a record of the potential exposure/s so that you can have quick access to the information in the future to help build any legal claims against an employer. To help, we have a register that allows you to record periods of employment, the employers’ details and what sort of exposures you might have had during that time. We'll keep your register details private and secure.

We'll only contact you to make sure you're happy to stay on our register or in the event of a potential silica claim being received involving your employer/s. Adding your details to our register is free of charge.

Meet a specialist from our team

Our market leading team will help you understand your rights, secure the compensation you’re owed, and access vital support – from rehabilitation to long-term care.

Oliver Collett

Partner

Find out more

Meet our experts

Oliver Collett

Partner

Find out more

Get the help you need

Call us free on 0370 1500 100

Making an enquiry

We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.

Complete our online form
We need a few details to understand your situation and the kind of support you need.
We’ll contact you by phone
On the call our experts will ask you a few more questions to make sure we connect you with the right legal advice from our team.
We arrange a full appointment
If we're able to support you further, the next step is an appointment with one of our specialists so we can discuss everything in more detail.

Get in touch

Frequently Asked Questions

You will no doubt have plenty of questions and frustrations if you have been let down by an employer and contracted silicosis as a result of your working environment. Read our FAQs here to learn more about making a silicosis claim.

What is silicosis and what are the symptoms?

Silicosis is an occupational condition widely linked to people who have worked as miners, stonemasons, kitchen fitters or potters. It can be life-changing to all those who are diagnosed with it.

The main symptoms of silicosis are a persistent cough and shortness of breath, as well as weakness and tiredness. It can often take up to 30 years for the symptoms to appear, which could be long after you have left the job where exposure took place.

Some people are initially diagnosed with work-related sarcoidosis, which causes similar lung condition symptoms. Clinicians often first diagnose sarcoidosis before a more definitive diagnosis of silicosis can be made.

As the disease progresses, the symptoms can get gradually worse. You may find you can’t walk upstairs on your own anymore. Many people with silicosis end up housebound.

On average, people who are diagnosed with silicosis will lose 11.6 years of their life. If you choose to make a claim for compensation, we will make sure this is factored into your settlement.

How long do silicosis claims take?

The circumstances around each claim vary, so we can’t say exactly how long your claim will take.

Much of how long your claim will take depends on whether your former employer accepts blame for your condition. If they do accept responsibility and agree with the amount of compensation, we’ll be able to settle your claim quickly.

However, we will need to prove their responsibility if they won’t accept it, which can mean your claim will take longer. If your employer disputes the amount of compensation we are claiming for, we may need to initiate court proceedings. This is a last resort, but don’t worry, we will be with you every step of the way, no matter what it takes.

What evidence do I need to make a silicosis compensation claim?

There are various pieces of evidence that can be submitted to support your silicosis claim.

Evidence we can use includes:

Witness statements from former colleagues
Your medical records
Your employment history to establish where you were exposed to silica dust
Financial records to prove any costs you have incurred or income you have lost from silicosis
Independent medical assessments, if needed
Our Silica Dust Register, showing your work history.

What is the silica exposure register?

As well as silicosis, silica dust exposure can cause various other diseases including:

Lung Cancer
Tuberculosis
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Autoimmune disease.

If you believe that you have been exposed to some form of silica dust at any point in your working life, but you don't currently have any symptoms or diagnosed conditions, it is important to make sure you keep a record of the potential exposure(s) so that you can have quick access to the information in the future to help build any legal claims against an employer.

To help, we have a register that allows you to record periods of employment, employers’ details and what sort of exposures you might have had during that time.

We will keep your register details private and secure and only contact you to make sure you are happy to stay on our register or in the event of a potential silica claim being received involving your employer(s). Adding your details to our register is free of charge.

Sign our Silica Exposure Register

Information to help with your claim

We can help with legal guidance and advice as well as other services you might need to aid your recovery and get your life back on track.

Support and Rehabilitation Co-ordinators
We'll make sure you get everything you need throughout the claims process
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About Irwin Mitchell
Find out more about our areas of expertise and our long, successful history.
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People we’ve helped
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Irwin Mitchell Scotland

Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.