| Legal Claim UK is a national network of specialist | | | | items that can be calculated accurately and |
| personal injury solicitors. Our lawyers are all | | | | 'general damages' which represents compensation |
| members the Law Society panel of personal | | | | for items that cannot be calculated with precision |
| injury experts¹ and will deal with industrial | | | | and must be assessed. |
| disease claims using the no win no fee scheme. | | | | General Damages:opain and sufferingoloss of |
| Compensation is paid in full and win or lose there | | | | lifestyleoloss of future job opportunities |
| is no charge. We can assist our clients in respect | | | | Special Damages:oloss of past wagesoloss of |
| of all types of industrial disease claims, and these | | | | future wagesomedical treatment and |
| include:-asbestos related conditionsvibration white | | | | equipmentoloss of pensionocost of free |
| finger (VWF)industrial deafnessskin | | | | assistanceodependents claimogeneral |
| conditionsoccupational lung diseaseminers | | | | expensesolegal expenses |
| illnessesrepetitive strain injury (RSI)work induced | | | | The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the |
| stressnoxious substance poisoning | | | | main legislation used to protect employees from |
| The health and safety of employees working for | | | | harm and requires employers is to carry out a |
| British firms is protected by laws passed by both | | | | risk assessment and to record any significant |
| the UK Parliament and also by the European Union | | | | findings and thereafter to take appropriate action |
| which clearly outline the standards which | | | | to implement the health and safety measures |
| employers should attain to ensure safety within | | | | identified as necessary by the risk assessment. In |
| the workplace. In general terms in order to claim | | | | addition there is a host of minor legislation that |
| compensation it is usually necessary to prove | | | | applies in particular circumstances most prominent |
| 'negligence' which means it must be shown that | | | | of which includes ; |
| the employer did not act with reasonable care | | | | Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulations |
| however in occupation damages cases an | | | | 1992: |
| employer will often be held to be 'strictly liable' | | | | Protective clothing and equipment. |
| without the necessity to prove negligence. All | | | | Management of Health and Safety at Work |
| employers must be insured and must display an | | | | Regulations 1999: |
| Employer's Liability Insurance Certificate. It is | | | | Risk assessments and implementation of |
| extremely difficult for an employer to escape | | | | protective measures. |
| being liable if an employee is injured during the | | | | Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) |
| course of his employment. Our personal injury | | | | Regulations 1992: |
| experts deal with a wide range of occupational | | | | VDUsafety regulations. |
| claims arising both in industrial situations and in an | | | | Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations |
| office environment. Employers must act within the | | | | (PUWER) 1998: |
| law and so far as is reasonably possible provide a | | | | Equipment and machinery safety. |
| risk free work environment with the following | | | | Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: |
| basic essentials:capable and safety conscious | | | | Physical movement of workplace objects. |
| employeesappropriate equipment and traininga | | | | Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981: |
| safe place to work | | | | First aid regulations. |
| The Limitation Act 1980 determines the time | | | | The Health and Safety Information for Employees |
| limits for taking legal action in the UK. In general | | | | Regulations 1989: |
| terms, subject to a number of exceptions it is | | | | Posters must be displayed in the workplace about |
| usually necessary to either settle a claim or issue | | | | health and safety. |
| proceedings within three years of the injury | | | | Noise at Work Regulations 1989: |
| however in the case an industrial disease claim | | | | Protection from industrial deafness. |
| there may be a long period between exposure to | | | | Control of Substances Hazardous to Health |
| the dangerous practice or noxious substance and | | | | Regulations 1999 (COSHH); |
| the effects being noticed by the sufferer. In | | | | Noxious substances regulations. |
| these cases the three year time period does not, | | | | Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) |
| in general, start running until the illness was either | | | | Regulations 1992: |
| discovered or should with reasonable diligence | | | | Maintenance and condition of the workplace |
| have been discovered. As would be expected | | | | environment. |
| these time limits and the definitions of them | | | | Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for |
| frequently give rise to litigation in the courts | | | | Supply) Regulations (CHIP 2) 1994; |
| particularly by insurers attempting to evade liability | | | | Classification of dangerous chemicals. |
| by showing that the time limit for taking action | | | | Construction (Design and Management) |
| has expired. It is therefore of paramount | | | | Regulations 1994: |
| importance that legal advice is sought as soon as | | | | Regulates systems of work on construction sites. |
| there is any suspicion of an occupational illness. A | | | | Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998: |
| delay of just one day is, in many circumstances, | | | | Installation and maintenance rules. |
| enough to preclude a claim with the opportunity | | | | If you have discovered your illness within the last |
| of recovering damages being lost forever. | | | | three years and would like free advice on |
| Damages that can be recovered in these cases | | | | industrial disease claims you should contact us. |
| usually follow the general rules for compensation | | | | You will receive a complete professional service |
| and are divided into two categories being 'special | | | | from lawyers who specialise in claiming |
| damages' which represents compensation for | | | | compensation for occupational personal injury. |