Silicosis - Silica:
There are many professions that pose a high risk of pollution and contamination to workers, and these can result in a wide range of diseases, illnesses and ill health effects. One of these is silicosis, a pneumoconiosis – lung disease – caused by dust. The dust that causes silicosis is silica, also known as quartz dust, and quartz is a widespread naturally occurring mineral that can be found in various types of rock. Workers that mine or grind may come across quartz rock on a frequent basis, and the clouds of dust that can sometimes be generated can result in silicosis.
It is essential that those working in such professions are given access to adequate protection while working with quartz rock. All too often, workers are seen wearing goggles to protect their eyes, but with little or no protection for their mouth and nose, leaving them open to breathe in quartz dust. In professions where most or all of the worker’s time is spent in these conditions, he is likely to be breathing in this dust for many hours each day, breathing in the dust and enabling small particles of it to flow deep into the lung cavities.
Excessive amounts of silica in the lungs can lead to injury, scarring, and ultimately death. Not all workers that breathe in silica will suffer serious harm, but in others it may prove fatal, so care and responsibility must be exercised by those frequently exposed to silica. Silicosis has been a threat and potentially fatal disease for many years, and is in fact one of the most common stone-dust related diseases. Silicosis has been known by a variety of other names, including:
- Potter’s Asthma
- Miner’s Phthisis
- Grinder’s Rot
- Stonecutter’s Disease
The extent to which silicosis develops and affects a person is usually dependant upon the level of exposure, which means the frequency and length of time over which the worker is exposed to silica without proper protection. It is thought that the silica particles are absorbed into the body, causing a reaction that results in cell poisoning. As well as the potential risks of lung scarring and damage, there is also the risk of the development of other diseases such as tuberculosis or pneumonia.
There are a number of professions that could be at risk from silicosis due to the risk of breathing in silica. These include:
- Miners
- Foundry workers
- Grinders
- Sandblasters
- Potters
- Granite carvers
Anyone that has been occupationally affected by silica could be entitled to compensation through negligence on behalf of an employer. If your employer has failed to follow health and safety regulations by providing you with inadequate protection then you mat be able to make a claim for any harm or injury caused by breathing in silica. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help to determine whether you have grounds for compensation, and can help you to put together a solid case.
Silicosis can result from the mining of a variety of commodities, including gold, zinc, copper, iron, and coal. If you are a miner and have worked on mining such products without adequate protection then you should seek medical assistance as a precaution. You should also seek the assistance of an experienced silica lawyer in order to claim compensation for medical expenses, harm, injury, pain, suffering, and loss of earnings. Likewise, if you are the relation of a loved one that has died from the effects of silica you could make a claim for wrongful death against a negligent employer.
The free consultation available from most personal injury lawyers will enable you to quickly determine whether you have grounds to make a claim, and how viable your case is. An experienced lawyer will evaluate your case and advise you on the likelihood of success. He or she may even be able to draw on past experience and give an idea of how much you could receive as a settlement for the ill effects of silica exposure.
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