What are the most common types of occupational disease?

What is an occupational disease?

The term ‘occupational disease’ refers to a chronic illness, disease or disorder that is caused by exposure to your work or your working conditions. Diseases caused by work can be severely debilitating and, at worse, fatal, and can range from hearing loss and limb disorders to asthma, asbestosis and cancer.

Some of the most common types of occupational disease include:

• Hearing loss
• Asthma
• Asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases
• Work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD)
• Workplace stress
• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer

Are some industries more prone to occupational diseases than others?

There are some types of occupational illnesses that can occur regardless of your occupation. For example, conditions such as depression or anxiety due to workplace stress – which can often be caused by workload pressures or a lack of support – are on the rise.

Other conditions, such as hearing loss, asthma, WRULD or asbestos-related diseases, can be much more common in particular industries, including:

• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Mining and quarrying
• Transportation and warehousing
• Agriculture and food

What are the most common types of occupational diseases?

There are many different types of occupational disease, and how each affects a person can differ significantly depending upon the severity of the condition. Many can be hard to spot initially, or difficult to attribute to your working conditions, and some can take years before symptoms even become apparent.

Some of the most common types of injuries include:

• Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL): often permanent and irreversible, NIHL can occur at sound levels of 85 decibels or above when exposed to them for prolonged periods. If you’re working in a noisy environment, your employer should provide adequate safety gear – and training on how to properly use them – to protect your hearing.

• Work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD): one of the most common conditions, WRULD include hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), carpal tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow, and are often characterised by pain in the arms caused by repetitive movements or excessive vibrations.

• Workplace stress: the number of employees struggling with conditions such as depression or anxiety due to workplace stressors has increased significantly in recent years. Such conditions can have a debilitating impact on both your mental and physical wellbeing, so its important that your employer provide the right support to minimise risks wherever possible.

• Asbestos-related diseases: once a widely used building material, asbestos poses a severe health risk and exposure to it can cause several illnesses, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Many of this illnesses can be life-long or even fatal.

How can Slater and Gordon help?

Occupational diseases can be incredibly limiting and often have a profound impact on the lives of you and your loved ones. If you’re suffering, it’s important to know that you are not alone, and help is available.

At Slater and Gordon, our specialist industrial disease solicitors have many years’ experience helping people with a wide range of conditions, and handle most claims on a No Win No Fee Basis. Crucially, we work with a wide network of charities and support organisations across the UK, ensuring our clients get access to a holistic support package.

For a free consultation call 0330 041 5869 or contact us online and we’ll be happy to help you.