If a welding illness has set you back, we'll help you move forward
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by welding illness, we can help you claim No Win, No Fee compensation.
Over 40 welder's a year are hospitalised by toxic fumes, you are not alone
It is estimated that breathing metal fumes at work leads to 40-50 welders each year being hospitalised (hse.gov.uk).
The Health and Safety Executive has estimated that approximately 40-50 people who are engaged in welding for a living require hospitalisation each year. Welding illness is relatively random: some welders are unaffected by their occupation, while others can suffer a range of symptoms.
Welding illness can range from minor complaints that resolve within a short period of time, to major conditions that drastically alter quality of life.
If you decide to make a welding illness claim, your industrial disease solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
What causes welding illness?
A welding accident, in which ultra violet and infra red radiation affects the welder, can cause serious burns to the skin. 'Arc eye', in which the surface of the eye is eroded by radiation, can also be caused by a welding accident. Both burns and 'arc eye' can be the result of an employer failing to provide effective personal protective equipment, or as the result of an employee neglecting to use such equipment correctly.
Welding illness can also be caused by the production of fumes during the welding process. A lack of appropriate ventilation or failure to use the correct personal protective equipment can cause welders to ingest toxic amounts of fumes. This ingestion can be extremely detrimental to the health of the welder, and may result in the necessity to change careers, or an inability to work in any capacity.
What conditions can be caused by welding fumes?
Welding fume fever can appear very similar to the 'flu. It usually resolves after a period of time, and it is unlikely to cause long term effects on the health of the welder.
The function of the lungs can be temporarily affected by the ingestion of welding fumes. This can mean that you have difficulty breathing that escalates over the course of your week at work. If exposure is limited thereafter, you may not experience any lasting effects.
If the area in which you are welding is not appropriately ventilated, you may develop chronic bronchitis or occupational asthma. This is caused by the fumes irritating the lining of the lungs, and can drastically affect your day to day life, making breathing difficult and laborious. The inhalation of rosin, a resin sometimes used by welders, can also be a precursor to occupational asthma. Unfortunately, the effects of this can be permanent and risk your life.
Welder's Siderosis, also known as Welder's Lung, can occur when tiny pieces of iron get into the lungs. This can happen to people who are involved in welding carbon steels. This condition can also make breathing difficult, and reduce your ability to complete simple tasks or engage in exercise.
Manganism can result from welding carbon steel. Also known as manganese poisoning, the effects of this can be extremely debilitating. Symptoms often mimic those of Parkinson's Disease, and may include trembling, shaking, difficulties with balance, slurred speech, problems with walking, impotence, feeling tired all the time, and leg cramps during the night.
Can welding illnesses be prevented?
Your employer has a duty to prevent welding illness from occurring. Employers are obliged to ensure that the area in which you are working is well ventilated, and to provide appropriate personal protective equipment. Organisations that employ welders are also responsible for conducting regular risk assessments in order to protect the safety of all staff, and prevent welding illnesses from developing.
How much compensation can I claim for a welding illness?
The amount of compensation you can claim for a welding illness is determined by:
- the seriousness of your illness,
- the extent to which your illness impairs your daily life and work,
- the losses and expenses you?ve incurred as a result of your illness.
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages will be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.
These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your welding illness such as decontamination, medical monitoring, inhalers and psychological support.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average welding illness general damages compensation table
The following welding illness payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Asthma & breathing difficulty
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | Mild asthma, bronchitis, colds, & chest problems that resolve within months | Up to £5,710 |
| Modest | Relatively mild asthma-like symptoms | £11,810 to £21,300 |
| Bronchitis/Wheezing | Bronchitis and wheezing that affects your work and social life | £21,300 to £29,170 |
| Chronic | Chronic asthma that causes breathing difficulties and you require an inhaler from time to time | £29,170 to £47,720 |
| Severe | Severe and permanent disabling asthma, and/or prolonged and regular coughing that affects your daily life and ability to work | £47,770 to £72,950 |
Chest injuries
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Toxic fume or smoke inhalation | Some lung damage, but lung function is not affected | £5,910 to £13,970 |
| Damage to chest or lung | Some ongoing disability | £34,740 to £60,840 |
Eye injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term eye injury | Complete recovery within a few weeks | £2,450 to £4,380 |
| Minor eye injury | Pain and temporary interference with vision during your recovery | £4,380 to £9,690 |
| Minor but permanent loss of some vision | Symptoms affecting one or both eyes, including double vision, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light | £10,110 to £23,270 |
| Moderate loss of some vision in one or eye | Serious but incomplete loss of vision in one or both eyes, or blurred vision and light sensitivity in both eyes | £26,270 to £43,670 |
| Loss of sight in one eye | £54,660 to £60,840 | |
| Loss of one eye | £60,840 to £72,920 | |
| Loss of sight in one eye & reduced vision in the other | £70,950 to £199,450 | |
| Total blindness | Around £298,130 | |
| Total blindness and deafness | Around £448,180 |
Facial scarring
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A hardly noticeable scar (or scars) | £1,890 to £3,920 |
| Moderate | A single scar that can be camouflaged with makeup, or multiple small scars that don't markedly affect your appearance | £4,380 to £15,250 |
| Significant | Significant scarring where the worst affects are reduced by cosmetic surgery, and/or with causing a psychological impact | £10,110 to £33,380 |
| Serious | Substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £19,930 to £53,720 |
| Severe | A younger person (under 30) with substantial disfigurement and/or a significant psychological impact | £33,040 to £107,990 |
Lung disease
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary aggravation of bronchitis | Temporary aggravation of existing bronchitis or other chest problems, with recovery in a few months | £2,450 to £5,910 |
| Slight breathlessness | Slight breathlessness with no effect on your working life, with full recovery expected within a few years likely | £11,810 to £23,070 |
| Bronchitis and wheezing | Bronchitis and wheezing with little or no impact on your work or social life | £23,070 to £34,740 |
| Breathing difficulties | Breathing difficulties and/or asthma that requires frequent use of an inhaler, and that affects your daily life and ability to work | £34,740 to £60,840 |
| Lung disease | Emphysema and other lung conditions with symptoms including difficulty breathing and impaired lung function that affects your life and work | £60,810 to £77,690 |
| Severe lung disease | Typically affecting a younger person, leading to a reduced life expectancy and quality of life | £111,680 to £150,780 |
Non-facial body scars
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Burns with scarring and ongoing pain | £2,630 to £8,690 |
| Moderate | Scarring such as an exploratory laparotomy scar | Around £9,590 |
| Serious | A noticeable laceration scar or single disfiguring scar | £8,690 to £25,220 |
| Severe | Severe burns with continuing pain and psychological injury | Up to £116,300 |
Tinnitus & Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Slight tinnitus or slight NIHL | Up to £7,780 | |
| Slight or occasional tinnitus with slight NIHL | £8,080 to £13,970 | |
| Mild tinnitus or mild NIHL | Around £13,000 | |
| Mild tinnitus and NIHL | £13,970 to £16,530 |
Am I entitled to make a welding illness claim?
If you've been injured or diagnosed with an illness in the last three years and it wasn't your fault, you will be able to claim compensation.
Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.
Claiming when you're partially at fault
Personal injury claims often involve circumstances where there is some degree of blame on each side.
We found that, in our 2024 Work Injury Claimant Survey, 26.02% of injured workers were unsure as to which party was legally liable for their injuries.
If you believe you were partly responsible, you may still have a claim. If you were injured at work, you should be able to claim compensation from your employer even if your actions, or the actions of a colleague, contributed to your injury.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long do I have to make a welding illness claim?
An injury claim will usually need to be made within 3 years of the date or your accident or injury.
If you were injured due to someone else's negligence but didn't realise it at the time, you may have longer to make a claim. Typically, you have three years from the date you either received a diagnosis or became aware of the negligence (known as the 'date of knowledge') to start your claim.
What caused your welding illness?
The compensation claims process will depend on where and how your welding illness occurred. Click the icons below for more information:
Can I make a no win, no fee welding illness claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim welding illness compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to an industrial disease specialist about your claim?
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Welding: Health risks from welding - HSE (reviewed: 01/08/2024)
Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher
About the author
Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.