Industrial Disease Claims — No Win, No Fee Solicitors

Last reviewed: June 2026 · EA Personal Injury Solicitors

If you have developed a medical condition as a result of exposure to hazardous substances or conditions at work, you may be entitled to compensation. EA Personal Injury Solicitors handles all types of industrial disease and occupational illness claim on a no win, no fee basis.

TL;DR — Quick Summary

Key Points

Industrial disease claims have a three-year limitation period from date of knowledge — not date of exposure
Claims are possible even against employers that have ceased trading
Compensation covers the condition itself and all associated financial losses
Multiple employers may each bear a share of liability
No win, no fee — if the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation

What Is an Industrial Disease Claim?

Unlike a sudden workplace accident, industrial diseases develop over time as a result of prolonged exposure to harmful substances, noise levels, vibration or other hazardous working conditions. The fact that the harm was gradual rather than instantaneous does not diminish your legal entitlement to compensation — provided you can show that your employer knew, or ought to have known, of the risk and failed to take adequate protective measures.

Many industrial diseases have long latency periods — years or decades may pass between the initial exposure and the manifestation of symptoms. This is one reason why the three-year limitation period for industrial disease claims runs from the date of knowledge rather than the date of exposure. Even if you were exposed to asbestos in the 1970s, or worked in a noisy factory for twenty years before your hearing deteriorated, you may still be well within the time limit to bring a claim.

Types of Industrial Disease We Handle

→ Noise-Induced Hearing LossNIHL caused by prolonged noise at work → Military DeafnessHearing loss suffered by armed forces personnel → MesotheliomaAsbestos-related cancer of the pleura → Asbestos DiseaseAsbestosis, pleural thickening and asbestos lung cancer → AsbestosisProgressive lung scarring from asbestos exposure → HAVS & Vibration White FingerNerve and blood-vessel damage from vibrating tools → Occupational AsthmaWork-triggered asthma from sensitising agents → Occupational DermatitisSkin conditions from workplace chemical exposure → SilicosisLung disease from respirable silica dust → Repetitive Strain InjuryUpper limb disorders from repetitive tasks → Welding Fume ClaimsRespiratory conditions from welding fume exposure

Establishing Liability in Industrial Disease Claims

To succeed in an industrial disease claim, you must establish that your employer knew (or should have known) that the type of work you were doing presented a foreseeable risk of harm and failed to take reasonable steps to protect you. Relevant evidence includes your employment records, occupational hygiene measurements, health surveillance records, and expert evidence on the level of exposure and the known state of scientific knowledge about the associated risk at the relevant time.

Compensation in Industrial Disease Claims

As in all personal injury claims, compensation covers general damages (for the disease itself and its consequences for your quality of life) and special damages (for financial losses including lost earnings, medical costs, care costs and future losses). For serious progressive conditions like mesothelioma, significant awards are routinely made.

Further Information

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes statistics and guidance on work-related ill health and occupational diseases in Great Britain.

No Win, No Fee Industrial Disease Claims

We act under a Conditional Fee Agreement. If the claim fails, you pay nothing. If the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an industrial disease?

An industrial disease is a medical condition caused or materially contributed to by exposure to hazardous substances or conditions at work. Common examples include noise-induced hearing loss, asbestos diseases, hand-arm vibration syndrome, occupational asthma, occupational dermatitis, repetitive strain injury and silicosis.

How long do I have to make an industrial disease claim?

Three years from the date of knowledge — the date you knew, or reasonably ought to have known, that you had a significant injury and that it was caused by your work or your employer's negligence. This is different from accident claims and can mean you still have a valid claim even if you were exposed to the substance decades ago.

Can I claim if my employer has gone bust?

In many cases, yes. Employers were required to hold employers' liability insurance by law from 1969. Insurers often retain records and many are still active. Specialist tracing services can identify the relevant insurer even for long-defunct employers. We can advise on your specific situation.

Does it matter that I smoked if I am making an asbestos or lung disease claim?

Smoking history may be relevant but does not automatically prevent a successful claim. Where there is evidence of both occupational exposure and smoking, the compensation may be apportioned, but significant awards are regularly made to smokers with work-related lung conditions.

What medical evidence do I need?

An independent medical expert will diagnose your condition, assess its severity, and express an opinion on causation — linking the condition to your occupational exposure. Specialist physicians such as occupational medicine consultants, chest physicians, audiologists and other experts are used depending on the condition.

What if I worked for multiple employers?

Where you were exposed to the causative agent (e.g. noise, asbestos, vibration) during employment with several different employers over the years, each employer may bear a proportionate share of liability. We will identify all relevant employers and insurers and pursue each as appropriate.

Published by EA Personal Injury Solicitors

Edward and Amaury Limited · SRA No. 800525

Verify the firm and its regulated people on the SRA Register. General information only; this is not legal advice.