Can I make a no win, no fee claim?

Your case with us will be on a No Win, No Fee basis. Simply put, if you don’t win, you don’t pay. 

You won’t have to pay any upfront costs for starting your case and a fee will be deducted if your case is successful. If your case is successful, you’ll only pay a percentage fee which will be taken out of your final compensation award which is capped at a maximum amount by law. 

You have nothing to lose but potentially something to gain.

Can Occupational Asthma be treated?

If the symptoms of occupational asthma have been discovered shortly after exposure, it can sometimes go away, or the effects be reduced. As long as:

• The diagnosis is made quickly
• The cause is identified
• Exposure to the trigger is stopped 

It is possible for symptoms not to go away completely or can go on for years, even after you’ve stopped being exposed to the trigger. However, avoidance of occupational triggers is an important part of management and minimising the risks.

What are the symptoms of Asthma?

If you believe you may have asthma, you may experience any of the following symptoms. Get in touch if you believe you have a case and start your no win, no fee claim. 

Coughing
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Chest tightness
Conjuctivitus (red, itchy, inflamed eyes)
Rhinitis (the inside of your nose is inflamed with symptoms of blocked, runny or itchy nose)

What are the high risk substances for Occupational Asthma?

There are certain occupations at a higher risk of developing occupational asthma due to the increased exposure of allergens or irritants on a regular basis such as:

• Bakers, Millers, Farmers – Flours, grains, wheat, detergents, cotton, hemp, rye
• Carpenters, Woodworkers – Wood dust
• Health care workers – Latex and chemicals
• Spray painters, Insulation installers, Plastics and foam, Welders, Metalworkers, Chemical manufactures – Chemicals: paints, varnishes, adhesives, laminates, soldering resin, insulation, packaging material, foam mattresses and upholstery
• Hairdressers – Dyes, persulfates
• Metal workers – Platinum, chromium and nickel sulfates
• Animal workers – Dander, hair, scales, fur, waste
• Health care workers – latex, biocides

You also have an increased risk of developing occupational asthma if you already have existing allergies or asthma, asthma genetics run in your family, or if you smoke.

What are the different types of Occupational Asthma? 

1. Occupational Asthma: This refers to cases of asthma caused by direct exposure of substances in the workplace. This can also be further divided into two forms:

• Allergic Occupational Asthma - Which is caused by a reaction (or sensitisation) to substances from exposure in the workplace over a period of time. This is the cause of the majority of occupational asthma cases.
• Irritant-induced Asthma (also called reactive airways dysfunction syndrome or RADS) – Which is caused by a one specific, high-level exposure to an irritant chemical. Due to the high levels of exposure cases usually develop symptoms within the first 24 hours of initial exposure.

2. Work-exacerbated Asthma: This is those with a pre-existing case of asthma which is worsened or triggered due to the exposure of specific agents while at work.

Asthma can develop immediately in some cases after being exposed for a short period of time, within a few days or weeks, or it can also develop a delayed latency period after many years from the initial exposure.
Identifying you have asthma early and seeking intervention is the best way to assist and manage occupational asthma.