Industrial Disease Claims

If you’ve developed a serious illness after years of working around dust, chemicals, vibration, noise or other industrial hazards, you may be dealing with more than just a diagnosis. The health effects are real—but so too are the frustrations, questions, and challenges that come with them. At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we’ve spent over 20 years supporting workers across Tallaght and Dublin who’ve been let down by unsafe working conditions—and we’re here to support you too.

Industrial diseases don’t happen overnight. They build over time, often because someone didn’t take the right steps to protect you. Maybe you were exposed to asbestos without being told, worked around silica or cement dust with no proper masks, or spent years using vibrating tools without being warned about the risks. These conditions can lead to long-term illness—like asbestosis, noise-induced hearing loss, industrial asthma, or hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)—all of which can seriously affect your work, your family life, and your future plans.

We understand the worry that comes with these diagnoses. You may not know where to start, especially if your exposure happened years ago or you’ve moved jobs since. That’s where we come in. We’ll take the time to listen, explain your options clearly, and help you understand if you have a claim.

As a community-rooted firm based right here in Tallaght Village, you’ll speak directly with a solicitor who knows the law and knows how to navigate these cases with care and determination. We’re thorough, dependable, and always on your side—giving you the peace of mind to focus on what matters most: your health and your future.

If you’ve been diagnosed with an illness linked to your job, contact John O’Leary Solicitors LLP today. We’ll help you take the next step—practically and professionally.

What Industrial Disease Is and How It Arises in Irish Workplaces

Industrial disease refers to a wide range of illnesses caused by exposure to harmful conditions over time in the workplace. Unlike sudden injuries, these illnesses often build up gradually—sometimes unnoticed for years—due to repeated contact with substances, tools, environments, or processes that damage the body.

We’ve supported individuals across Tallaght and Dublin who were exposed to risks daily without proper protection, often while simply doing their job the way they were told. Many didn’t realise the damage was building until long after the exposure began. Some only connected the dots after a GP visit or a specialist diagnosis. That’s what makes industrial disease different—it doesn’t always start with a dramatic event. It can be silent, cumulative, and devastating if ignored.

Examples of common exposures include:

  • Dust from cement, wood, grain, or stone
  • Fumes and vapours from welding, solvents, paint, or fuel
  • Chemicals used in cleaning, agriculture, or manufacturing
  • Noise from heavy machinery or compressed air tools
  • Vibration from drills, breakers, sanders, or grinders
  • Asbestos in insulation, pipework, and ceiling tiles—especially in older buildings

These exposures are particularly common in construction, road maintenance, warehousing, transport, heavy manufacturing, printing, food processing, healthcare, and cleaning roles. Many workers in these environments were never warned about the dangers or given proper protective equipment. Others were given masks or gloves once, but never shown how to use them properly or told when to replace them.

In areas like Tallaght, where generations have worked in trades, engineering, facilities, and logistics, industrial disease isn’t a distant legal term—it’s something that affects real people in real ways. Breathing problems, hearing loss, chronic skin irritation, and nerve damage are all part of the picture.

Some workers develop symptoms while still on the job. Others don’t realise the link until years later, when the damage becomes more serious or permanent. That’s why these cases require a solicitor who understands not only the legal side—but the working realities behind each diagnosis.

At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we take these cases seriously because we’ve seen how deeply they affect people’s lives, families, and futures. Industrial disease isn’t just an illness—it’s a breach of the trust every worker places in their employer to keep them safe.

Common Types of Industrial Disease

Industrial disease comes in many forms, but all of them share one common thread—they’re caused by working in conditions that weren’t properly managed, supervised, or made safe. We’ve helped people across Tallaght and Dublin who developed long-term health problems through no fault of their own. Below are some of the most common conditions we see linked to unsafe workplaces.

Lung and Respiratory Conditions

These are among the most serious and most common industrial diseases. Workers exposed to dust, fibres, fumes, or chemical vapours over long periods may develop:

  • Occupational asthma – often triggered by flour, cleaning agents, or chemical sprays
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – linked to fumes, dust, or long-term inhalation of irritants
  • Silicosis – a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust, especially in construction, stone-cutting, and demolition
  • Asbestosis and Mesothelioma – both caused by asbestos exposure, with symptoms often appearing decades later

We’ve worked with clients who swept factory floors, operated cutting tools, or worked around insulation boards without ever being told of the risks.

Skin Conditions and Contact Reactions

Skin is one of the first parts of the body to react to workplace exposure—especially where proper gloves or wash facilities weren’t provided.

  • Industrial dermatitis – painful inflammation triggered by regular exposure to oils, solvents, detergents, or cement
  • Chemical burns or skin corrosion – from unlabelled containers or poor spill procedures
  • Allergic reactions – contact with certain agents can sensitise the skin over time, causing outbreaks that worsen with each exposure

These conditions are common among cleaners, painters, food handlers, and healthcare staff—many of whom were never warned about repeated contact risks.

Hearing Damage from Workplace Noise

Noise-induced hearing loss is often overlooked because it develops gradually. However, exposure to loud machinery without proper ear protection can lead to permanent damage.

  • Tinnitus – persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears
  • Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) – difficulty hearing conversations or specific frequencies
  • Balance issues – sometimes linked to long-term inner ear damage

We’ve supported clients who worked in garages, warehouses, construction sites, and bus depots where noise levels were never measured or managed.

Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and Nerve Disorders

Many tools used in manual trades produce dangerous levels of vibration. Without proper rotation systems, breaks, or vibration-reducing gloves, workers can suffer:

  • HAVS – a painful condition that affects circulation and nerve function in the hands
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome – caused by repetitive strain or vibrating equipment
  • White finger – blanching and numbness in the fingers from prolonged vibration exposure

These conditions affect mechanics, fitters, grounds staff, and road workers—many of whom were never monitored for symptoms during their employment

Work-related Cancers

Exposure to carcinogens at work is a serious but often hidden risk. We’ve seen claims involving:

  • Asbestos-related cancers – such as mesothelioma or lung cancer
  • Nasal cancer – sometimes linked to wood dust or leather dust exposure
  • Chemical-related cancers – long-term handling of solvents, dyes, or fumes without protective measures

In many of these cases, symptoms appeared long after retirement—and only after a medical link was identified through scans or tests.

These illnesses are the real-world consequences of working in environments where employers failed to take basic safety steps. Whether it’s a cleaner with respiratory symptoms, a mechanic with numb fingers, or a construction worker struggling to breathe, we’ve helped people get answers, recognition, and compensation.

If your health has changed after years in a physically demanding or hazardous job, it may be worth looking back to see if your working environment played a part. We’re here to help you do exactly that.

How Industrial Disease Often Gets Missed

One of the most difficult parts of industrial disease is that it often goes unnoticed—until it becomes impossible to ignore. Many of the people we support didn’t realise they were ill because of their work. Some spent years living with symptoms they thought were down to ageing, smoking, or just bad luck. Others only connected the dots after a diagnosis, or when a doctor asked about their job history.

That delay isn’t uncommon—and it’s not your fault.

In many workplaces across Dublin and Tallaght, health and safety wasn’t prioritised. If you’ve worked in noisy, dusty, or physically demanding jobs, you may never have been warned about the long-term risks. Safety procedures may have existed on paper, but weren’t followed day to day. Protective gear was often handed out once and never replaced. And in many cases, people were expected to “just get on with it”—even if something didn’t feel right.

Symptoms of industrial disease don’t always appear straight away. In some cases, like vibration-related injuries or hearing loss, it’s a slow build-up. In others, such as asbestos-related illness, symptoms may not show for decades. That means people often don’t make the link between their job and their illness until years later.

There’s also the issue of silence. Many workers don’t report symptoms early on—either because they don’t want to seem like they’re complaining, or because they assume nothing can be done. Others were never given a chance to speak up. Some were afraid of losing their job if they raised concerns about noise, dust, or unsafe handling practices.

These patterns are far too common—and they’re one of the reasons industrial disease cases need specialist handling. The illness may have developed slowly, but its impact can be life-changing.

At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we know how to trace back through work history, exposure risks, and medical records to build a clear picture of what went wrong. If you’ve lived with symptoms for years, or only recently received a diagnosis, we can help you understand whether your working life may have played a role—and what can be done about it now.

What Employers Should Have Done to Protect You

It’s important to note that the time limit clock doesn’t always start from the day of the injury—it can begin when you first realise the injury was linked to negligence. For example, if an infection was misdiagnosed, you may only realise the full extent of the mistake months later.

At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we’re here to explore your situation without judgement. You don’t need all the paperwork or certainty upfront—just a conversation to get started. And we’ll take it from there.

What You Can Claim For

Every worker in Ireland has the right to a safe and healthy working environment. That’s not just a moral obligation—it’s a legal one, set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Employers are required to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to their employees, especially when dealing with known risks like hazardous substances, loud noise, or vibrating tools. Unfortunately, many don’t.

At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we’ve worked with people across Tallaght and Dublin who were exposed to avoidable dangers—often over long periods—because their employer failed to follow basic safety standards.

Here’s what should have happened:

  • Proper risk assessments should have been carried out, identifying hazards like airborne dust, solvent fumes, asbestos fibres, or noisy machinery.
  • Protective equipment such as masks, gloves, hearing protection, or vibration-reducing tools should have been provided and maintained—not just handed out once and forgotten about.
  • Adequate training should have been given. Workers should’ve known what they were handling, how to use tools safely, and how to spot early warning signs of illness or injury.
  • Clear information should have been displayed and communicated, including safety data sheets for chemicals, noise level notices, or machinery hazard warnings.
  • Rotation systems or regular breaks should have been implemented where exposure to noise or vibration was unavoidable.
  • Health monitoring should have been offered in roles with known exposure risks, especially in long-term contracts or physical trades.

But here’s what we commonly see instead:

  • A “tick-box” approach to safety, where policies exist but aren’t followed in practice
  • Staff expected to keep up with productivity targets, even if it means ignoring symptoms or taking shortcuts
  • Faulty or missing protective equipment
  • No follow-up when issues are raised—or worse, a culture where speaking up is discouraged
  • A complete absence of monitoring for long-term health impacts

In many cases, clients were told that the risks were “just part of the job,” or that the equipment was safe “because everyone else was using it.” That’s not good enough. The law doesn’t allow employers to shift the burden of risk onto workers—and it doesn’t excuse them for failing to act on hazards that were entirely preventable.

If your employer didn’t take these steps to protect you, and you’ve developed a condition that may be linked to your work, you may have a valid claim. We can help you prove where that duty of care was broken—and what it has cost you.

Time Limits for Industrial Disease Claims in Ireland

In Ireland, the standard time limit for bringing a claim is two years less one day. But with industrial disease claims, it’s not always clear when that clock starts. Many illnesses take years—even decades—to show up. That’s why the law uses something called the “date of knowledge.”

The “date of knowledge” means the time when you first knew—or reasonably ought to have known—that your condition may be linked to your work. This could be the day your doctor explained your diagnosis, or when a medical report confirmed the likely cause. The two-year window starts from that point—not from when you were exposed or left the job.

This is especially important in cases involving asbestos, dust inhalation, vibration, or chemical contact. We’ve helped retired workers and those who changed jobs long ago pursue valid claims, even when the original exposure happened years earlier.

If your illness led to the death of a loved one, the time limit to claim begins on the date of death or from when post-mortem results linked the illness to their work.

There are rare exceptions where the courts may allow a claim to proceed outside the two-year limit—but these are handled case by case and require legal advice as early as possible.

Timing is critical. Even if you’re still gathering evidence or waiting on test results, it’s best to speak with a solicitor as soon as you suspect your illness might be work-related. Early advice can protect your right to claim later.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Claim Now

If you believe your illness may be linked to your job—now or in the past—there are some practical steps you can take to protect your position, even if you’re still working, retired, or unsure how far back the exposure goes.

These steps don’t need to be complicated. Start with what you know, and build from there.

  • Speak to your GP or consultant: Let your doctor know about your work history. Be specific about the substances you worked with, the tools you used, or the environments you were in. If they believe there could be a link between your condition and your job, this may be recorded in your medical notes—an important piece of supporting evidence.
  • Write down your work history: This doesn’t need to be formal. Make a list of jobs you’ve had, what you were doing, where you worked, and any known hazards (like dust, noise, vibration, or chemicals). Even basic details can help paint a picture of your exposure over time.
  • Note any safety concerns or missing protections: Think back: Were gloves, masks, or hearing protection provided? Were chemicals labelled? Did anyone ever do a risk assessment? If safety gear was missing or worn inconsistently, that may point to a failure in your employer’s duty.
  • Gather supporting documents: These could include medical letters, prescriptions, old payslips, photographs, shift logs, or even texts/emails about your job. If any former colleagues have had similar issues, it may be worth noting their names in case statements are needed later.
  • Keep track of your symptoms: A simple diary or notebook can help. Record when symptoms began, what makes them worse, or how they affect your work or daily life. These records support your claim and show how the illness is progressing.

You don’t need to gather everything perfectly before speaking to a solicitor. At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, we’ll help you make sense of what you have and what’s still needed. Even small details—like how your job changed over time or when you first noticed symptoms—can make a big difference.

The earlier you start protecting your position, the stronger your case can be. We’re here to help you do that, carefully and professionally.

Speak to John O’Leary Solicitors LLP Today

If you’ve developed a health condition that may be linked to your work—whether you’re still employed, retired, or unsure how far back it goes—we’re here to help. At John O’Leary Solicitors LLP, you’ll speak directly with a local solicitor who understands the law, the realities of industrial work, and the impact these illnesses have on your life.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation about your situation.