Exposure to Hazardous Substances Claims

If you’ve been exposed to harmful chemicals, dust, fumes or other hazardous substances at work, and you’re now dealing with illness or injury as a result, we understand how worrying that can be. Whether your symptoms developed suddenly or over time, it’s never easy facing health problems linked to your job. You may be feeling unsure about what caused it, who’s responsible, or where to even begin.

At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we’ve been helping people across Tallaght and Dublin for over 20 years with practical, down-to-earth legal advice—always in plain language, never in legal jargon. We’re not a big corporate firm or a voice on the phone. We’re your local team, based right here in Tallaght Village, and we take the time to understand what you’ve been through and what matters most to you and your family.

Workplace exposure claims are often complex, especially when symptoms don’t show up right away. That’s where experience matters. Whether you’ve worked in a factory, warehouse, lab, or construction site, we know how to trace what went wrong and how to protect your rights without making things harder at work.

We’ll guide you through the process with care and clarity—step by step, and always at your pace. If you’re worried about your health, your job, or your next steps, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

Contact John O’Leary Solicitors LLP today to speak directly with someone who’ll listen, explain your options, and stand firmly in your corner.

What Hazardous Exposure Looks Like in Real Irish Workplaces

Exposure to hazardous substances at work isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t always come from a dramatic spill or a major accident. In many cases, it builds slowly—through daily contact with dust, fumes, or chemicals that don’t look dangerous but can cause serious harm over time.

At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we’ve seen how this happens in real workplaces across Tallaght and Dublin. Many of our clients worked in jobs where contact with these substances was just “part of the job.” It might have been handling cleaning fluids, breathing in dust from stockrooms, or being near unventilated machinery in a warehouse. At first, they didn’t feel unwell. But over time, the symptoms started—coughing, skin irritation, tightness in the chest, or headaches that wouldn’t go away.

Hazardous substances can include:

  • Chemical fumes (from paints, solvents, adhesives, or cleaners)
  • Fine dust particles (from flour, silica, sawdust, or cement)
  • Toxic gases (like ammonia or carbon monoxide)
  • Corrosive liquids (such as industrial cleaning agents)
  • Mould and biological contaminants (in damp or poorly ventilated spaces)
  • Infectious agents in healthcare or care environments

We’ve seen this happen in:

  • Food factoriesusing industrial cleaners
  • Warehouseswhere dust builds up from packaging or machinery
  • Cleaning roleswhere protective gloves or masks weren’t provided
  • Construction siteswhere cement dust or old asbestos remained uncontained
  • Medical and care facilitieswith repeated exposure to sanitisers or disinfectants

Exposure can happen through breathing, skin contact, or accidental swallowing. Sometimes workers aren’t even told what substances they’re handling, or they’re asked to carry out tasks without gloves, masks, or proper ventilation. In some cases, substances are unlabelled—or the labels are in a language the worker doesn’t understand.

It’s not enough for an employer to say they’ve done training. The law requires them to provide a safe system of work—and that includes giving you the equipment, instructions, and protections you need to avoid harm.

You don’t have to know exactly when or how you were exposed. If you’re feeling unwell and you believe it may be linked to your work environment, speak to us. We’ll help you trace what happened, whether you’re still in the job or not, and explain your options clearly and confidentially.

Why It Happens: Failures in Workplace Safety

When someone becomes ill due to exposure at work, it’s rarely a matter of bad luck. In most cases we’ve handled, the real issue is that safety systems failed—either because they didn’t exist or because they were ignored.

Under Irish law, every employer has a duty to identify and control risks in the workplace. This includes hazardous substances. But in too many jobs across Tallaght and Dublin, we’ve seen serious lapses that put workers in harm’s way.

Inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Some employers don’t provide gloves, masks, or eye protection at all. Others hand them out once and never replace them. We’ve helped workers who were using cleaning agents without proper gloves or respirators, and those exposed to welding fumes without effective masks.

Poor Ventilation and Containment

We often see workplaces with no proper air circulation or extraction systems. Fumes build up, dust hangs in the air, and staff are expected to carry on regardless. In one local warehouse, a lack of filters led to ongoing respiratory issues among forklift drivers.

Lack of Training and Information

Many workers are never told what substances they’re handling. Labels may be missing or unreadable. Safety data sheets are either not provided or not explained. In several cases, workers were exposed to toxic materials because they simply weren’t warned.

Unsafe Work Practices

We’ve dealt with claims where staff were encouraged to “just get on with it” to hit targets—cleaning up spills without protection, mixing chemicals without guidance, or working through strong fumes. Some employers cut corners to save time or costs, and staff bear the health consequences.

Ignored Health & Safety Reports

It’s not uncommon for staff to raise concerns—only to be dismissed or ignored. We’ve supported people who told their manager about a recurring leak, mould problem, or chemical reaction, only to be told it was nothing to worry about.

In all these situations, the law is clear: employers must anticipate risks, take reasonable steps to prevent harm, and act on known hazards. Failing to do so is not just irresponsible—it can be legally negligent. If these kinds of lapses sound familiar, it’s worth exploring whether your illness could be connected to your working conditions.

Illnesses and Injuries Caused by Workplace Exposure

The health effects of workplace exposure to hazardous substances can be serious—and often, they creep up gradually. You might notice something small at first: a wheeze in your chest, a patch of irritated skin, or a lingering headache. But these early signs can grow into long-term, sometimes permanent, conditions if the exposure continues.

Some of the most common short-term symptoms we see include:

  • Persistent coughing or throat irritation
  • Headaches or dizziness
  • Nausea or loss of appetite
  • Rashes, itching, or dry, cracked skin
  • Watery eyes or difficulty breathing after certain tasks

If left untreated or if the exposure continues, these symptoms can lead to chronic illnesses, including:

  • Occupational asthma– triggered by dust, fumes, or cleaning chemicals
  • Dermatitis– a painful skin condition from contact with irritants
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)– damage to the lungs from repeated inhalation of harmful particles
  • Chemical burns or scarring– often from accidental splashes or contact with strong cleaning agents
  • Silicosis or asbestosis– caused by inhaling fine dust particles over time
  • Certain types of workplace-related cancer– particularly with prolonged exposure to known carcinogens like formaldehyde, benzene, or asbestos

What’s particularly difficult about exposure-related illness is that the effects aren’t always immediate. In many cases, people continue working, unaware of the harm being done. They may only receive a diagnosis months or years later—by which point, the damage may already be done.

We’ve seen how these illnesses affect not just health, but everyday life. Clients tell us about missed work, ongoing medication, repeated GP visits, and the stress of not knowing what’s wrong. In some cases, they’ve had to change jobs entirely or leave the workforce due to permanent damage.

If you’ve developed health issues that you believe may be linked to your job—even if you’re not 100% sure—it’s worth speaking to someone. We’ll help assess whether exposure could be the cause, and whether your employer may be legally responsible. And if you’ve already been diagnosed, we can help you take steps to protect your future and secure the support you need.

Who’s Responsible When You're Exposed at Work?

When harmful exposure happens in the workplace, responsibility lies with the people who were meant to keep you safe. In most cases, that’s your employer—but it can also include site managers, agencies, or third-party contractors, depending on how the work was arranged.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, Irish employers have a clear legal duty to protect their workers from avoidable harm. That includes identifying hazardous substances, providing safe handling procedures, issuing proper protective gear, and offering training that workers can actually understand and apply. These responsibilities aren’t optional—they’re the law.

This duty of care extends to everyone in the workplace, regardless of your role or contract type. Whether you’re a permanent employee, a part-time cleaner, an agency temp, or a subcontractor, you’re still entitled to safe working conditions. We’ve helped clients in all of these positions bring successful claims when their health was affected by poor workplace practices.

In some environments, more than one party might share responsibility. For example, a contractor who supplies cleaning chemicals but fails to label them properly, or an agency that places workers without adequate instruction, may also be liable.

It’s also important to understand that responsibility doesn’t disappear because you were “used to the job” or didn’t raise a complaint at the time. The burden is on the employer or duty-holder to prevent foreseeable harm—not on you to anticipate danger in silence.

If you’ve worked in conditions that exposed you to harmful substances, the law may well be on your side. Our job is to help you understand exactly who was responsible, and what steps can be taken to hold them accountable.

What You Can Do Right Now to Protect Your Position

If you’ve been exposed to harmful substances at work and are now dealing with symptoms or a diagnosis, there are a few practical steps you can take straight away to protect your health, your job, and your future legal position.

Speak to your GP and explain your work environment

Be clear about the tasks you perform, the materials you’ve handled, and any patterns in your symptoms. GPs can document this and may recommend further tests or referrals that support your medical record.

Keep written notes about your exposure

 Include the types of substances you worked with, how often, whether any protective equipment was provided, and what the working conditions were like. This doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to reflect what you experienced day to day.

Gather any documentation you have

If you’ve been given safety datasheets, written instructions, or workplace notices, hold onto them. If you reported a hazard and have a copy of that report—or even a text or email to a supervisor—that could be useful too.

Record the effect on your life

This could include sick leave, hospital appointments, prescriptions, or impacts on your daily routine. These details help show the full extent of the damage caused.

Talk to a solicitor sooner rather than later

Early advice can help you avoid common mistakes, preserve important evidence, and clarify where you stand legally. Whether or not you decide to take it further, knowing your rights allows you to make informed decisions with confidence.

You don’t need to prepare everything before getting help. Start with what you have, and we’ll guide you through the rest. The sooner you act, the more options are available to protect your well-being and your future.

How Long Do I Have to Make a Claim?

In most exposure-related claims, the time limit to bring a case is two years less one day—but the clock doesn’t always start ticking when the exposure happened. Instead, the time limit usually begins from what’s called the “date of knowledge”—the moment you first became aware that your illness or symptoms might be linked to your work.

This is especially important in exposure cases, where symptoms can take months or even years to appear. You might only get a diagnosis long after you left a particular job, or after your condition has worsened. The two-year period generally starts from when a doctor links your illness to something in your work environment—or when you first reasonably suspected the connection.

There are exceptions. For example, if the person affected was under 18 at the time of exposure, their two-year time limit doesn’t begin until their 18th birthday. In some rare cases, where capacity or legal guardianship is involved, different rules may apply.

Even if you think a lot of time has passed, it’s worth checking with a solicitor. We can quickly determine whether the time limit still applies and, if so, help you take the right steps before it expires. Timing matters—and early advice makes all the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a hazardous substance in the workplace?

Hazardous substances include anything that can harm your health through contact, inhalation, or absorption. This might be dust, chemical fumes, cleaning agents, corrosive liquids, gases, or biological materials. If a substance causes illness or injury in your work environment, it may be classed as hazardous.

Can I claim if my symptoms started years after exposure?

Yes. The law allows claims to be made within two years from the date you first realised your illness might be linked to your job. This is called the “date of knowledge.” It’s common for symptoms to appear long after the actual exposure took place.

What if my employer didn’t tell me the substance was dangerous?

Employers have a legal duty to warn staff about risks, provide proper training, and supply safety equipment. If they failed to do this—even if you didn’t know the substance was harmful—you may still have a valid claim.

Do I need proof of the exact chemical or substance?

Not necessarily. If you can describe the type of work, the tasks involved, and the symptoms you developed, we can help trace the likely cause. Medical reports, workplace records, and witness statements can all support your claim.

Can agency workers bring claims too?

Yes. Your employment status doesn’t change your right to a safe workplace. Whether you were a full-time employee, temp, or on contract, you may be entitled to compensation if safety laws weren’t followed.

I’ve changed jobs—can I still bring a claim?

Yes. Many people don’t notice symptoms until they’ve left the role that caused the exposure. What matters is the connection between your illness and the conditions you previously worked in.

What illnesses are commonly linked to exposure claims?

We’ve seen cases involving asthma, dermatitis, chemical burns, lung damage, respiratory infections, and even cancer. If your doctor links your condition to your work environment, it’s worth speaking to a solicitor.

Will making a claim affect my current job?

Irish law protects you from unfair treatment for seeking legal advice or making a claim. If you’re concerned about how it might affect your employment, we can explain your rights and support you through it confidentially.

Speak to John O’Leary Solicitors LLP

If you’ve been affected by exposure to hazardous substances at work, and you’re living with the consequences, we’re here to help you take the next step—calmly and confidently. At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, you’ll speak directly with a solicitor who understands both your legal rights and your lived experience.

We’ve supported people across Tallaght and Dublin for over 20 years, offering honest, practical advice in a straightforward way. Your call will be treated with care, discretion, and respect—always.

Contact us today for a confidential conversation about your situation. We’re ready to listen and ready to help.