If you have been harmed by chemical exposure at work in the UK, you can claim compensation where your employer breached the COSHH Regulations 2002 or was otherwise negligent. Employers must assess chemical risks, prevent or control exposure, provide PPE and monitor workplace exposure levels. Compensation is valued under the Judicial College Guidelines. The time limit runs from the date of knowledge of your condition, not necessarily the date of exposure.
Workers across the UK are exposed to hazardous chemicals every day in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, cleaning, laboratories, hairdressing and dozens of other industries. When employers fail to control that exposure, the consequences range from acute chemical burns to chronic lung disease, organ damage, cancer and death. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) for hundreds of substances in EH40. This guide explains how chemical exposure claims work and what you can claim. We are an independent information service, not a law firm.
Employer duties under COSHH
The COSHH Regulations 2002 set out a hierarchy of control:
- Eliminate the hazardous substance or use a safer alternative.
- Enclose the process (fume cupboard, sealed system).
- Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to extract fumes at the source.
- General ventilation of the workplace.
- PPE (respirators, gloves, goggles) as the last resort.
Employers must also provide training, maintain safety data sheets, carry out exposure monitoring and conduct health surveillance for certain substances.
Common hazardous chemicals
| Substance | Industries | Health effects |
|---|---|---|
| Crystalline silica dust | Construction, quarrying, stone cutting | Silicosis, lung cancer, COPD |
| Isocyanates | Spray painting, foam manufacturing | Occupational asthma |
| Solvents | Printing, painting, cleaning | Neurological damage, dermatitis, liver damage |
| Acids and alkalis | Chemical manufacturing, cleaning | Chemical burns to skin, eyes, respiratory tract |
| Welding fumes | Engineering, construction | Welding fume fever, COPD, lung cancer |
| Pesticides | Agriculture, pest control | Neurological damage, cancer |
Injuries caused by chemical exposure
- Acute chemical burns. Immediate damage to skin, eyes or respiratory tract. See scarring and burns claims.
- Occupational lung disease. Asthma, COPD, silicosis, pneumoconiosis from inhaled dusts and fumes.
- Skin conditions. Occupational dermatitis, chemical sensitisation.
- Neurological damage. From solvents and heavy metals.
- Cancer. Certain chemicals are recognised carcinogens (benzene, chromium VI, crystalline silica).
- Organ damage. Liver, kidney and bladder damage from chronic exposure to industrial chemicals such as solvents and heavy metals.
- Reproductive harm. Some chemicals (certain pesticides, solvents, heavy metals) are linked to fertility problems and birth defects. Employers must carry out specific risk assessments for pregnant workers and workers of childbearing age under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Acute vs chronic exposure
Chemical exposure claims fall into two broad categories. Acute exposure involves a single incident — a chemical splash, a gas leak, an explosion or a spill — that causes immediate harm such as burns, respiratory distress or poisoning. Chronic exposure involves repeated, lower-level exposure over weeks, months or years that gradually causes disease. Chronic claims are more complex because you must prove the cumulative exposure caused your condition, often with expert epidemiological and medical evidence. Both types are compensable where the employer was negligent.
Compensation
- General damages under the JCG 17th edition (2024) for the specific injury: lung disease, skin conditions, burns, eye injuries, neurological damage.
- Special damages for lost earnings, medical treatment, medication, care, aids and home adaptations.
If your condition is a prescribed disease under the IIDB scheme, you may claim that state benefit alongside your civil claim.
Evidence for a chemical exposure claim
- COSHH risk assessments (or evidence they were absent).
- Workplace exposure monitoring data.
- Safety data sheets for the chemicals used.
- Medical records and specialist reports.
- Employment records showing duration and nature of exposure.
- HSE enforcement notices, if any.
- Witness evidence from colleagues.
Time limits
Three years from the date of knowledge under the Limitation Act 1980 section 14. For diseases developing gradually, this is typically when a doctor first told you your condition was linked to workplace chemical exposure. See our time limits guide and delayed symptoms guide.
Getting help
We are not a law firm. To find a solicitor experienced in industrial disease claims, use the SRA register and the Law Society "Find a Solicitor" service.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim for chemical exposure at work?
Yes, if your employer failed to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) or was otherwise negligent. Employers must assess chemical risks, prevent or control exposure, provide PPE, monitor exposure levels, carry out health surveillance and provide training. A failure in any of these duties that causes you harm can give rise to a claim.
What is COSHH?
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 are the key UK regulations governing workplace chemical exposure. They require employers to identify hazardous substances, carry out risk assessments, prevent exposure where practicable or control it to safe levels, provide suitable PPE, monitor exposure and carry out health surveillance for certain substances.
What chemicals are covered?
COSHH covers industrial solvents, acids, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, dust including silica and wood, welding fumes, biological agents, and any substance with a Workplace Exposure Limit set by the HSE in EH40. Asbestos and lead have separate regulations but similar claim principles apply.
How much compensation for chemical exposure?
It depends on the injury. Acute chemical burns are valued under the JCG scarring or eye injury brackets. Chronic conditions such as occupational asthma, COPD, chemical sensitisation or organ damage are valued under the relevant JCG chapters. Special damages for lost earnings, treatment and care are added on top.
How long do I have to claim?
Three years from the date you first knew your condition was caused by workplace chemical exposure, under the Limitation Act 1980 section 14. For chronic conditions that develop over years, the date of knowledge is often much later than the first exposure.
What if I was exposed years ago?
You can still claim if you are within the limitation period. Many occupational diseases take years to develop. The three-year time limit runs from the date of knowledge, not the date of exposure. Specialist solicitors handle historical exposure claims regularly.
Can I claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit?
Possibly, if your condition is a prescribed disease under the IIDB scheme. Certain occupational diseases from specific chemical exposures are prescribed, meaning you can claim IIDB without proving employer negligence. This is separate from a civil compensation claim.
Get help from official, free sources
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) — check a solicitor is regulated
- The Law Society — Find a Solicitor — accredited PI specialists
- Citizens Advice — free, impartial guidance on your rights
- GOV.UK — courts, time limits and official guidance
Related guides: industrial disease claims, occupational asthma claims, silicosis claims, work accident claims, and occupational dermatitis claims.