Downturn could be a life-saving blessing in disguise

Manual, manufacturing and building workers may lose their jobs, but they could keep their life or health as a consequence of the downturn.

Nicola Winslett, personal injury partner with Cheshire law firm SAS Daniels LLP, says that fewer building projects and less manufacturing is bringing down the numbers of construction workers and manual labourers potentially being exposed to hazards and dangerous substances.

“A slow-down in work levels may actually give construction and manual workers time to stop and consider if they are suffering the sorts of harm and injury that quietly sneaks up on them,” said Nicola Winslett.

“Blokes being blokes, they often live with the discomfort caused by mild injuries – but if they have time to think about their job-induced discomfort, they may realise that something is genuinely wrong.

“From the point the claimant knew he or she had an injury that was linked to work, they have only three years to make a claim.

“Cement dust, for instance, can cause major respiratory problems and allergic reactions. There are many other airborne dust-type materials that can cause damage to the human body. In some cases, a job loss, laying-off or redundancy may actually be something that prolongs the life of somebody in construction or certain types of manufacturing.

“However, while some groups will be less exposed, others may become more exposed because they’re working harder and longer hours to make ends meet, or vital Health and Safety measures fall foul of cost-cutting measures driven by the economic climate.

“There are some jobs and careers where short-term increased exposure to chemicals, through overtime, or, because fewer staff have to do the work of redundant colleagues, can cause life-long problems.

“People don’t think this sort of thing is something they can claim for since its something that tends to creep up gradually rather than be a distinct accident.

“But skin disease can often be work-environment induced and tends to continue long after the exposure has ceased.

“It can be excruciatingly painful because skin has a lot of nerve endings in it, and it can also cause significant embarrassment.

“It can also cause the end of a career because, once sensitised to a particular compound or chemical, the individual will remain so for the rest of their lives. That obviously has a significant financial impact on the individual’s family life and they may need retraining which may also affect them socially.

“The obvious solution is to offer gloves but sensitised skin often doesn’t react well to gloves, especially if they’re worn for long periods of time, because they don’t allow the skin to breathe.”

SAS Daniels LLP is Cheshire’s biggest law firm, with offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton and Bramhall.

For more information contact Nicola Winslett