Formaldehyde Exposure Claims (Formalin)
Exposure to formaldehyde and formalin in the workplace can cause serious health problems, particularly after prolonged or repeated contact. Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from harmful chemical exposure, but failures in workplace safety can place employees at significant risk.
At Thompsons Solicitors, we help workers across England and Wales secure the compensation and support they need after developing illnesses linked to formaldehyde exposure.
Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling chemical used in a wide range of industries and products, including laboratories, healthcare settings, embalming, manufacturing, construction materials, textiles and cleaning products. Formalin is a solution containing formaldehyde, commonly used for preservation and disinfecting purposes.
Exposure can occur through inhalation, skin contact or accidental ingestion. Workers most at risk include laboratory technicians, healthcare professionals, mortuary workers, factory employees, cleaners, construction workers and employees working with chemical preservatives or industrial cleaning products.
Employers have legal duties under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations to reduce and control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. Where employers fail to take reasonable safety precautions, workers can suffer serious long-term health consequences. Many workers are exposed to formaldehyde without being fully informed of the risks or provided with appropriate protective measures.
How Thompsons Solicitors can help you make a formaldehyde exposure claim
Long-term or high-level exposure to formaldehyde can lead to a range of serious health conditions. Common symptoms and illnesses linked to formaldehyde exposure include:
- Breathing difficulties and respiratory irritation
- Occupational asthma
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
- Skin conditions and dermatitis
- Headaches and dizziness
- Long-term respiratory disease
- Chemical sensitivity
- Certain cancers linked to chemical exposure
Exposure may occur where employers fail to provide adequate ventilation, personal protective equipment (PPE), appropriate safety training or safe handling procedures for hazardous chemicals.
You may be entitled to make a compensation claim if:
- You were regularly exposed to formaldehyde or formalin at work
- Your employer failed to take appropriate safety measures
- You developed respiratory problems, skin conditions or other illnesses linked to exposure
- Your illness has affected your ability to work or daily life
We're here to help you
Our industrial disease experts are on hand to talk through your case and provide free, no-obligation legal advice.
At Thompsons Solicitors, our experienced industrial disease lawyers have supported workers exposed to hazardous substances in a wide range of industries. We understand the long-term impact workplace chemical exposure can have on your health, finances and family life.
We provide clear advice from the outset and support clients through every stage of the claims process. Our industrial disease teams act for workers across England and Wales and have extensive experience handling complex exposure claims.
Thompsons Solicitors has decades of experience representing workers affected by industrial diseases and occupational exposure claims.
We are proud to act only for injured people and their families. We have never acted for employers or insurance companies and we never will.
Here are some of the ways we can help with your formaldehyde exposure claim:
- We will investigate your workplace exposure and gather supporting evidence
- We will obtain medical evidence to assess the impact on your health
- We will work to secure the maximum compensation possible
- We will support access to rehabilitation and ongoing treatment where appropriate
- We will provide straightforward advice on funding, including no win, no fee arrangements where available
In most cases, industrial disease claims must be started within three years of the date you became aware your illness may be linked to workplace exposure. Seeking legal advice as early as possible can help protect your right to claim.
How to get in contact
If you believe your illness may be linked to formaldehyde exposure at work, our specialist solicitors can advise you on whether you may be entitled to claim compensation.
To find out more about how we can help, speak with our specialist industrial disease solicitors today. Call us on 0800 0224 224 or visit our contact page to request a call back.
Frequently asked questions about Formaldehyde Exposure Claims
Formaldehyde exposure happens when workers inhale or come into contact with formaldehyde chemicals in the workplace. Exposure is common in laboratories, healthcare environments, manufacturing and industries using chemical preservatives or disinfectants. Repeated exposure can lead to serious respiratory and skin conditions.
You may be able to make a claim if you developed an illness or health condition after being exposed to formaldehyde or formalin at work and your employer failed to take reasonable steps to protect your health and safety.
Compensation amounts vary depending on the severity of your illness, the impact on your ability to work and the long-term effect on your life. A solicitor can assess your circumstances and provide advice based on your individual case.