Silicosis Claims

A work accident sustained because of because of company’s negligence calls for filing a compensation claim. But, to ensure you reap the right rewards from you claims, hiring the right solicitors becomes quintessential. In fact, reputed and experienced solicitors can almost ensure the right results for your claims. In this write-up, we’ll discuss about the illness occurring because of one’s exposure to welding.

The mineral compound silicon oxide, silica, is also known as quartz or crystalline silica. Silicosis is caused by occupational exposure. It is a situation in which scarring of lungs occur due to the inhalation of silica particles. Appetite loss, fever, fatigue and shortness of breath during exercise are symptoms of Silicosis. In many cases earlobes and lips of the patient turns blue. The incubation period of acute silicosis is a week or period as long as five years. The chronic silicosis may occur after ten years of exposure.

At Rogers Arkansas Attorneys, highly competent and reputed solicitors help you file just the right compensation claim for the pain and suffering and mental endured by you. In addition, to meet the present and future medical expenses, filing a compensation claim is the best way out. Solicitors here carefully and patiently listen to your case and file the compensation claim after proper investigation.

Silica and Silicosis – An Overview

Silica is found in man-made and natural substances, sand, gravel, bricks, slate, ores, flint, plaster, rocks and limestone. It is commonly used for blasting. If silica particles are inhaled they settle into lungs.

Silicosis is caused by occupational exposure. It is a situation in which scarring of lungs occur due to the inhalation of silica particles. Appetite loss, fever, fatigue and shortness of breath during exercise are symptoms of Silicosis. In many cases earlobes and lips of the patient turns blue. The incubation period of acute silicosis is a week or period as long as five years.

The human body releases macrophages to prevent silica particles to affect them. However, gradually macrophages are destroyed by silica particles. This leads to silicosis, a disease caused by scarring of lungs. Silicosis causes breathing difficulty leading to respiratory failure and death. Shortness of breath, wheezing, chest illness and coughing are symptoms of silicosis. People suffering from silicosis may develop tuberculosis, lung cancer, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Pulmonary tests showing impairment, x-rays showing rounded opacities in the lungs and prolonged exposure to crystalline silica are the three factors showing a worker suffering from silicosis.

Occupational Exposure of Silica

The people who are at the risk of silicosis may belong to the following occupations:

• Refractory workers
• Sand blasters
• Furnace installers and repairs
• Casting workers
• Abrasive Blasters
• Molding and shaking out workers
• Structural metal blasters and painters
• Oil production rigs and equipment workers
• Ship building and repair worker
• Transportation equipment blaster
• Fettling workers
• Raw material and handlers
• Foundry workers

There are two forms of silicosis. The acute form takes two years after the silica exposure. The chronic form of silicosis appears after many years of silica exposure. It can occur as a simple or a complicated stage. The accelerated stage develops in less than ten years of silica exposure and is commonly linked with sandblasters. According to a study conducted by the American Journal of Industrial Medicine in 2003, the occupational surveillance programs of the government do not record more than thousand of silicosis cases.

The sandblasting industry is aware of the hazardous effects of silica exposure. However, they did nothing to warn the people or workers associated with silica exposure.  United Kingdom banned the silica sand in 1949. In 1970, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health suggested replacing the silica sand as an abrasive for blasting operation.

With the advent in the number of work accident injury solicitors, filing compensation claims for work accident injuries has become way easier. These solicitors are quite competent and guarantee a high approval rate for all your claims. So, it makes every sense to look for reputed solicitors when looking to file compensation claims. As a victim, it is important for you to file the compensation claim to meet the growing medical expenses and sufferings.