A silicosis claim in the UK arises when you develop silicosis from breathing in crystalline silica dust at work because your employer failed to comply with the COSHH Regulations 2002. Silicosis is an incurable, progressive lung disease. Compensation is valued under the Judicial College Guidelines, Chapter 7(D) for lung disease, plus special damages. You may also claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) as prescribed disease D1. The time limit runs from the date of diagnosis or knowledge, not the date of exposure.
Silicosis is one of the oldest known occupational diseases, yet it continues to kill and disable workers in the UK. Crystalline silica dust is generated by cutting, drilling, grinding or blasting materials containing quartz: stone, concrete, brick, morite, sandstone and increasingly engineered quartz worktops. When inhaled over time, the fine particles scar the lung tissue irreversibly. The HSE has identified silica dust as a priority occupational health hazard. This guide explains how silicosis compensation claims work. We are an independent information service, not a law firm.
What is silicosis?
Silicosis is a form of pneumoconiosis caused specifically by crystalline silica. It comes in three forms:
- Chronic silicosis. Develops after 10-30 years of exposure to lower levels of silica dust. The most common form.
- Accelerated silicosis. Develops after 5-10 years of heavier exposure.
- Acute silicosis. Develops within weeks to months of very intense exposure (e.g. unprotected sandblasting). Rapidly fatal.
All forms are incurable. Treatment is supportive: bronchodilators, oxygen therapy and in severe cases lung transplantation. Silicosis also increases the risk of tuberculosis and lung cancer.
Which jobs cause silicosis?
| Occupation | Silica source |
|---|---|
| Stone cutting and masonry | Cutting, grinding and polishing natural and engineered stone |
| Construction (cutting, drilling) | Concrete, brick, mortar, sandstone |
| Tunnelling and mining | Rock drilling and blasting |
| Quarrying | Extraction and crushing of silica-bearing rock |
| Sandblasting | Propelling sand at surfaces (now restricted) |
| Foundry work | Silica sand in casting moulds |
| Ceramics and pottery | Clay and glaze containing silica |
| Worktop fabrication | Engineered quartz (up to 93% silica content) |
Employer duties
Under the COSHH Regulations 2002, the UK Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) for respirable crystalline silica is 0.1 mg/m3 (8-hour TWA). Employers must:
- Carry out a COSHH risk assessment for silica dust.
- Use dust-suppression measures: water suppression, on-tool extraction, enclosed cutting.
- Provide local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and maintain it.
- Provide and maintain suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE) where exposure cannot be controlled below the WEL.
- Carry out exposure monitoring.
- Provide health surveillance including regular lung function testing for exposed workers.
- Provide information, instruction and training.
Compensation
- General damages under JCG 17th edition (2024), Chapter 7(D) for lung disease, ranging from lower awards for mild breathlessness to very substantial awards for severe progressive massive fibrosis with major disability and shortened life expectancy.
- Special damages for lost earnings (past and future), medical treatment, medication, oxygen equipment, care and home adaptations.
Where silicosis contributes to the worker's death, the estate and dependants can claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Silicosis is prescribed disease D1 under the IIDB scheme. You can claim IIDB without proving employer negligence. The benefit level depends on your assessed percentage of disablement. IIDB is separate from a civil compensation claim, so you can pursue both. See compensation and benefits.
Evidence
- Medical records, chest X-rays (showing characteristic silicotic nodules), CT scans and lung function tests.
- Employment history and exposure records.
- COSHH assessments and exposure monitoring data.
- Respiratory specialist medical report.
- If the employer no longer exists, the Employers' Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) can help locate historical insurers.
Time limits
Three years from the date of knowledge (Limitation Act 1980, s.14), typically when a doctor first diagnosed silicosis and linked it to your work. See our time limits guide.
Getting help
We are not a law firm. To find a solicitor experienced in industrial disease claims, use the SRA register. The British Lung Foundation provides support for people with lung disease.
Frequently asked questions
What is silicosis?
Silicosis is a serious and incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust over a period of time. The dust causes scarring (fibrosis) of the lung tissue, leading to progressive breathlessness, cough and reduced lung function. It is classified as an industrial disease and is prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme as disease D1.
Can I claim compensation for silicosis?
Yes, if your employer failed to protect you from silica dust exposure. Under the COSHH Regulations 2002, employers must assess the risk from silica dust, use dust-suppression measures such as water suppression and LEV, provide RPE, monitor exposure and carry out health surveillance. A failure in these duties that caused your silicosis can give rise to a compensation claim.
Which jobs cause silicosis?
Jobs with high silica exposure include stone cutting and masonry, sandblasting, tunnelling, quarrying, demolition, concrete cutting, foundry work, ceramics manufacturing and worktop fabrication particularly with engineered stone. Construction workers are among the most commonly affected.
How much compensation for silicosis?
It depends on the severity. The JCG 17th edition Chapter 7(D) covers lung disease. Mild silicosis with modest breathlessness attracts lower awards. Severe progressive massive fibrosis with major disability, oxygen dependency and shortened life expectancy attracts the highest awards in this chapter. Special damages for lost earnings and care are added on top.
How long do I have to claim?
Three years from the date you knew or should have known your silicosis was caused by workplace dust exposure, under the Limitation Act 1980 section 14. Because silicosis often develops years or decades after exposure, the date of knowledge is usually much later than the period of employment.
Can I claim IIDB for silicosis?
Yes. Silicosis is prescribed disease D1 under the IIDB scheme. You can claim this state benefit without proving employer negligence. The benefit level depends on your assessed level of disablement. IIDB is separate from a civil compensation claim, so you can pursue both.
What if my employer no longer exists?
You may still be able to claim. If the employer had employers liability insurance at the time of your exposure, the insurer remains liable even if the company has been dissolved. The Employers Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) maintains a database of historical employers liability policies that your solicitor can search.
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, asbestos and mesothelioma claims, occupational COPD claims, chemical exposure claims, and work accident claims.