Phurnacite Illness Claims

If you have developed an illness due to exposure to harmful dust or fumes while working at a phurnacite plant, you could claim phurnacite compensation. Phurnacite is a type of smokeless fuel that is often used in cookers, room heaters or stoves. It is the ‘trade name’ for carbonised ovoid briquette which is smokeless and mostly dust-free. Like other industrial processes, phurnacite is made in plants throughout the UK.

While many employees who assist with this process have not developed an illness or injury while working in a phurnacite plant, this is sadly not the case for everyone.

If you believe that poor working conditions and negligent behaviour on the part of your employer have resulted in you developing a phurnacite-related health condition, you could be able to claim compensation as a result. If you would like to claim phurnacite compensation, contact First Personal Injury to discuss your case.

To assess your claim, contact us on 0800 808 9740 or online.

Phurnacite Compensation Claims

In 2012, there was a landmark case against a phurnacite plant in Abercwmboi, South Wales. This plant is the most notorious phurnacite plant in the UK. The case was brought forward by the ex-workers and families of ex-workers who had developed lung cancer and respiratory diseases as a result of poor working conditions at the plant. The rulings in this case determined that:

• Lung cancer can be caused by working at a Phurnacite plant if the conditions are poor.
• COPD (also referred to as emphysema) and chronic bronchitis can be caused by working at a Phurnacite plant if the right protections are not in place.
• There is serious evidence that links the development of squamous cell cancer to exposure to pitch and tar related products. The court did not determine whether basal cell skin cancer can also be caused or materially contributed to by exposure to pitch or tar related products.

If you have developed any of the conditions listed above due to being exposed to harmful substances while working at a phurnacite plant, you could be able to claim phurnacite compensation. If you have developed any similar conditions, such as skin cancer, is it worth contacting a personal injury solicitor because you could still be able to claim.

The court found that the defendants in the case, the owners and operators of this particular phurnacite plant, were aware of the risk to the workers. It was found that they understood that there was a correlation between exposure to harmful dust and fumes at the plant and respiratory disease/lung cancer yet they failed to act.

This court case set a precedent by establishing that certain conditions could be caused by exposure to dangerous substances in a phurnacite plant. Therefore, if you or your loved one has been exposed to harmful dust or fumes at a phurnacite plant and has developed a related illness as a result, you could be able to claim phurnacite compensation.

Phurnacite Compensation: Employer Responsibility

All employers have a duty of care towards their employees to ensure their safety while at work. Therefore, there are certain protections that must be put in place by your employer to ensure their safety. For a phurnacite plant, these protections include:

• Personal protective equipment – such as respirators and gloves to decrease the likelihood that you will breathe in any dangerous substances.
• Training – all employees should receive training when they first start at their job role to ensure that they know how to safely complete the role.
• Re-training – if there is an incident at the plant which causes a health and safety concern, all employees should undergo extensive re-training to ensure that everyone knows how to perform their job role in a safe manner.
• Risk assessments – it is important to regularly risk assess the work environment to ensure that any health and safety risks are managed.

If you are an employer and you would like to find out more about the protections you must put in place and expectations you must follow to keep your employees safe, visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

If you believe that your employer has failed to keep you safe and you have developed a phurnacite-related illness as a result, you could claim phurnacite compensation. To find out more, contact First Personal Injury today.

Phurnacite Compensation

The amount of phurnacite compensation that you are awarded will be based upon the specific circumstances of your case. The amount of compensation that you are awarded will be determined by two categories: general damages and special damages.

General Damages

General damages refer to the physical and emotional damage caused by your injuries or illness. In the simplest terms, it refers to compensation for pain and suffering. This type of compensation also covers any losses of amenity, aka a decrease in your ability to function, that has arisen from the injuries sustained in an accident. To view estimates for personal injury types, visit our compensation calculator.

Special Damages

Special damages compensation refers to compensation that covers the financial losses and expenses incurred as a result of an accident or medical negligence. Special damages could help to reclaim a loss of income if you have been unable to work due to your phurnacite-related illness. Similarly, if you have had to pay to go to a medical appointment or if you had to pay to travel to a medical appointment, you could be able to claim these medical costs back.

Making Personal Injury Claims

If you have suffered a personal injury, you may be entitled to receive compensation. First Personal Injury solicitors are available to assist you and ensure that you win the compensation that you deserve.

First Personal Injury works with both families and individuals across England and Wales, leading them on their legal journey and helping them claim compensation after an accident or injury. Contact our specialist team to begin the process, either by phone on 0800 808 9740 or through our online form.