Diagnosed With Silicosis? You Could Be Owed Thousands.
Silicosis is caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica (RCS) — microscopic particles of silicon dioxide — over prolonged periods at work. The particles lodge in the lung tissue and cause progressive fibrosis that reduces lung capacity and can lead to severe respiratory disability, secondary infections including tuberculosis, increased risk of lung cancer, and in advanced cases respiratory failure.
Employers are required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 to assess and control silica dust exposure, provide respiratory protective equipment, undertake health surveillance and keep exposure below the Workplace Exposure Limit of 0.1 mg/m³. Failure to do so constitutes employer negligence.
Scottish Claims Helpline handles silicosis claims across Scotland on a no win no fee basis. There is no financial risk to you.
How Much Could You Receive?
| Severity | Typical Award |
|---|
| Severe — significant respiratory impairment | £82,290 - £125,010 |
| Moderate — breathlessness, reduced function | £34,680 - £82,290 |
Based on Judicial College Guidelines for general damages.
That’s not all. Special damages cover lost earnings, care costs, medical treatment and all associated financial losses. Where silicosis forces a worker to leave their occupation, retraining costs may also be recoverable.
Who Can Claim?
Silicosis claims in Scotland arise most frequently from work in granite quarrying and dressing (particularly in Aberdeenshire), sandstone construction and masonry, road tunnelling and civil engineering, ceramic and pottery manufacture, and foundry work. An emerging wave of claims involves workers who cut engineered quartz stone kitchen worktops — a material containing up to 93% crystalline silica — without adequate dust control, developing severe accelerated silicosis within just a few years of exposure.
Silicosis Claims — Frequently Asked Questions
Severely disabling silicosis is valued at £82,290–£125,010 in general damages under the Judicial College Guidelines. Moderate cases are valued within the £34,680–£82,290 bracket. Special damages for lost earnings, care costs and expenses are paid on top.
Silicosis is caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica (RCS) over prolonged periods at work. Common sources include granite quarrying, sandstone masonry, tunnelling, engineered quartz stone worktop cutting, ceramics, foundry work and construction. Employers must control exposure under the COSHH Regulations 2002.
3 years from the date of diagnosis under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. Contact us as soon as possible after diagnosis.
Yes. An emerging wave of claims involves workers who cut engineered quartz kitchen worktops containing up to 93% crystalline silica without adequate dust control, developing severe accelerated silicosis within just a few years of exposure. This is an area of rapidly growing litigation and our solicitors are actively handling these claims.
Employers must comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, assessing and controlling silica dust exposure, providing suitable respiratory protective equipment, undertaking health surveillance, and keeping exposure below the Workplace Exposure Limit of 0.1 mg/m³. Failure to do so constitutes employer negligence.
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 — all completely free and with no obligation. If you decide to go ahead, everything is handled 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. Last reviewed February 2026. Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (
FRN 830381).