Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Claims

The main symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis are shortness of breath and coughing. The condition can also be progressive, becoming very disabling and potentially reducing life expectancy.

One possible complication is scarring of the lung tissue, also known as pulmonary fibrosis. This can make your shortness of breath and cough worse and cause other symptoms like weight loss and fatigue.

Employers have a duty to protect employees and should have put measures in place for:

• Avoiding exposure to dangerous substances, such as bacteria and mould wherever possible
• Providing suitable protective equipment when exposure is unavoidable, such as masks
• Changing metalworking fluids and cleaning machines regularly
• Training
• Risk assessments.

If you have fallen ill because your employer has failed to take one or more of these steps, you may be able to make a compensation claim.

Yes, our industrial disease lawyers secured £60,000 for a man who contracted hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also known as ‘bird fancier’s lung,’ while working for a construction company.

Our client worked as a project manager converting an abandoned water tower into luxury apartments. Pigeons were a big problem in the water tower and there was a significant build-up of droppings and dead birds inside the tower.

Much of the work done in the tower, such as putting up scaffolding and cutting holes for windows, caused a lot of mess. There were dust particles, pigeon droppings and the bodies of dead birds, resulting in an environment that was “absolutely filthy”.

After a lengthy legal battle, the defendant agreed to a settlement two weeks before the case was due to go to trial. Read more about this story here.