Inhalation of Toxic Fumes at Work

Inhalation of Toxic Fumes

Hazardous substances are used in many workplaces today. Hazardous substances can include chemical products such as adhesives or cleaning agents, substances generated through the work itself such as welding fumes, biological agents such as fungi, bacteria and viruses and natural substances such as flour, grain or enzyme dusts. Extra caution must be taken so as not to breathe in the fumes from such substances due to the damages they may cause. The inhalation of toxic fumes can lead to extremely serious health conditions that can not only impact your ability to work but can threaten your quality of life too.

What are the symptoms of toxicity?

 Repeated exposure can cause a variety of symptoms including:

• headaches
• nausea
• abdominal cramps
• losing consciousness
• impairment of the senses and faculties
• a burning sensation in the nose and mouth
• chest pain
• itchiness/irritation of the skin

Sometimes a chemical is present in the air as small particles (dust) and many of these may stay within the lungs causing long term lung damage. Some particles may dissolve into the bloodstream and have effects elsewhere in the body, the kidneys and liver for example.

Causes of accidents involving toxic fumes:

Your accident may have been the result of:

• your employer’s failure to provide you with personal protective equipment (PPE)
• noxious substance spillage by a colleague
• undetected leaks from defective or old equipment leading to an escape of gas

Some of the various occupations and industries with employees that could be at risk of toxic fume inhalation includes, but is in no way limited to, healthcare workers, mechanics, welders, miners, construction workers, oil and gas workers and farming. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 includes safeguarding employees from exposure to substances hazardous to their health. If you have been suffering with symptoms or have developed a condition as a result in which your employer was to blame it should be possible to pursue a claim for compensation.

Contact us today for free, no obligation advice regarding your Accident At Work claim – either by calling us free on 0800 028 2060, or by requesting a free call back, whereby one of our team will contact you at a time of your choice, to discuss your situation.

We’re here to help – contact us today.