Health and Safety Executive statistics show that around 13,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer connected to their working environment each year and of those around 8,000 die from the disease.
The TUC have prepared a guide called Occupational Cancer – A Workplace Guide which explains more about the HSE figures and highlights the importance of preventing workplace cancers.
Preventing workplace cancers
Trade Unions continue to campaign to have carcinogens (substances known to cause cancer) removed from all workplaces and over the years have had a number of successes.
For example asbestos, which kills up to 4,000 people a year, was banned from use in the UK in the 1980’s. Unfortunately though as the average interval between inhaling asbestos fibres and the onset of symptoms is around 35 years and can be as long as 50 years or more, there are still many people yet to develop an asbestos related illness who were exposed to asbestos at work before the ban came into place.
More information about workplace cancers and carcinogens in the workplace can be found on Thompsons’ Workplace Cancer Compensation Claim Advice Information Page.
Diagnosed with an industrial disease? Receive legal advice and more with Thompsons Solicitors.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a work-related disease or illness in the last three years, our industrial disease compensation specialists are on hand to support you with making an industrial disease compensation claim
Whether your working conditions are the cause of the illness, or are a contributing factor, our industrial disease experts can help you to build a case for compensation that takes into account your present and future needs.
In addition to getting the best possible legal advice, our industrial disease solicitors will put you in contact with medical and rehabilitation experts who can aid your recovery.
If you’d like more detailed information about how to start a claim, visit our How to Make a Compensation Claim page.