Developed Asthma at Work? You Could Be Owed Thousands.
Occupational asthma is a prescribed industrial disease in the UK. It arises when a worker becomes sensitised to a specific substance encountered in their workplace — once sensitised, even tiny further exposures can trigger severe bronchospasm, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. In some cases removing the worker from the sensitising agent leads to improvement; in others, the sensitisation is permanent and the asthma persists for life.
Employers are legally required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 to assess exposure to asthmagens, implement adequate ventilation and dust suppression, provide appropriate respiratory protective equipment, and carry out health surveillance including spirometry tests. Where they have failed, workers are entitled to compensation.
Scottish Claims Helpline handles occupational asthma claims across Scotland on a no win no fee basis. There is no financial risk to you.
How Much Could You Receive?
Occupational asthma compensation depends on the severity and permanence of the condition:
| Severity | Typical Award |
|---|
| Severe — permanent, irreversible respiratory disability | £82,290 - £125,010 |
| Moderate — ongoing but manageable symptoms | £34,680 - £82,290 |
| Mild — full or near-full recovery after removal from exposure | £10,390 - £34,680 |
Based on Judicial College Guidelines for general damages (pain, suffering and loss of amenity).
That’s not all. If your occupational asthma means you can no longer work in your original occupation, your claim will include compensation for lost earnings, loss of future earning capacity, and any retraining costs. Medical expenses, medication, travel to appointments and the cost of home adaptations are also recoverable. For workers forced to leave well-paid trades, special damages alone can add tens of thousands to the total settlement.
Who Can Claim?
Any worker who has developed occupational asthma as a result of their employer’s failure to control exposure to a sensitising agent can claim. Common occupations include bakery workers exposed to flour and enzyme dust, joiners and woodworkers exposed to hardwood and softwood dust, vehicle spray painters exposed to isocyanates, healthcare workers exposed to latex, welders exposed to welding fumes, hairdressers exposed to bleach and perming chemicals, food processing workers, and workers in animal facilities. Claims can be brought against former employers who have ceased trading, through their employers’ liability insurers.
Occupational Asthma Claims — Frequently Asked Questions
Occupational asthma compensation under the Judicial College Guidelines ranges from £34,680 for moderate cases to £125,010 for severe, permanent respiratory disability. Mild cases where removal from the sensitising agent leads to full recovery attract lower awards. Special damages for lost earnings, retraining costs, medical treatment and expenses are paid on top.
Occupational asthma is asthma caused by exposure to a sensitising agent at work. Once sensitised, even tiny further exposures can trigger severe bronchospasm, wheezing and breathlessness. It differs from pre-existing asthma worsened by work, which is a separate condition. Common causes include flour dust, wood dust, isocyanates in spray paints, latex, welding fumes and chemical agents.
3 years from the date of knowledge under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. The date of knowledge is when you first knew or ought reasonably to have known that your asthma was caused by your work. Contact us as soon as possible after diagnosis.
Common workplace asthmagens include flour and enzyme dust (bakeries), hardwood and softwood dust (joinery), isocyanates (vehicle spray painting), latex (healthcare), welding fumes, laboratory animal proteins, bleach and perming chemicals (hairdressing), and food processing agents. Employers must identify and control exposure under the COSHH Regulations 2002.
Yes. If your occupational asthma means you can no longer work in your original occupation, your claim will include compensation for lost earnings, loss of future earning capacity, and any retraining costs. This can significantly increase the total settlement, particularly for workers forced to leave well-paid skilled trades.
Yes. You need to show your employer failed to protect you from the sensitising agent — for example by failing to carry out COSHH assessments, provide adequate ventilation or extraction, supply appropriate respiratory protective equipment, or conduct health surveillance including spirometry. Your solicitor gathers this evidence on your behalf.
How Do I Start My Claim?
It takes 2 minutes. Fill in our short form and one of our specialist Scottish solicitors will call you back at a time that suits. They will listen to what happened, tell you straight away if you have a claim, and explain exactly how much you could receive — all completely free and with no obligation. If you decide to go ahead, everything is handled for you on a no win no fee basis from start to finish. You pay nothing unless you win.
About this page: Written by the Scottish Claims Helpline editorial team. Reviewed by a qualified Scottish solicitor specialising in industrial disease litigation. Last reviewed February 2026. Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (
FRN 830381).