Chemical injury compensation claims

What is a chemical injury?

A chemical injury is usually caused by an irritant that comes into contact with your skin or eyes. This can cause burns, conditions such as dermatitis, or eye injuries with long-term effects such as partial or complete loss of sight. Irritants can also be breathed in, causing a chemical inhalation injury and damage or discomfort in your lungs.

If chemicals are swallowed, this may lead to internal injuries with serious or potentially fatal consequences. If someone else was at fault, you could be entitled to chemical poisoning compensation.

These types of injuries aren't always obvious, and sometimes symptoms take a while to show. This might lead to delayed treatment, which can make the effects more severe and leave you with a longer recovery time. The severity of chemical accidents in the workplace or in public often varies depending on the situation and substances involved. 

Where are chemical burns and injuries most likely to happen?

Chemical injuries are most likely to happen in the workplace, particularly where the use of corrosive substances or irritants is common. This includes industries such as:

• Farming and agriculture
• Chemical processing and production
• Manufacturing
• Beauty
• Catering
• Cleaning
• Construction and engineering
• Oil and offshore drilling
• Vehicle repair and maintenance

Our partner chemical injury compensation specialists have worked on cases in other industries, so don't worry if you don't see yours listed above.

If you've suffered chemical burns, poisoning or any other type of exposure because of your job, we're here to help. Call us on or arrange a call back with one of our friendly advisors.

What substances can cause a chemical burn?

Many different substances can cause a minor chemical burn, and some may cause far more serious injuries. Acid, alkaline and caustic chemicals all need to be handled with great care. Here are some of the more harmful chemical compounds, and examples of where you might find them:

• Ammonia: This is mostly used in fertiliser production for farming and agriculture, and it can cause severe burns. It's also commonly found in cleaners and detergents, often in a diluted form. Some industrial cleaners contain concentrated ammonia products.
• Sulphuric acid: This is often found in cleaning fluids, car battery fluid and water-treatment products. It's also used in fertiliser manufacturing processes, as well as heavy industry applications such as petrochemical processing, oil refining and metal extraction.
• Hydrofluoric acid: Widely used in cleaning products, herbicides, pesticides, phosphate fertilisers, refrigerants and some household rust removers. It's also used in the production of plastics, aluminium, electrical components and fluorescent light bulbs.
• Hydrochloric acid: This has many industrial uses including cleaning, dye manufacturing, metal refining, pharmaceuticals and water treatment. It is also often added to swimming pools to maintain the right pH levels.
• Phosphoric acid: Common in detergents, disinfectants, rat and rodent poison, and rustproofing products. It's also used in military and weaponry applications, as well as the sugar and textile industries.
• Sodium hydroxide: A corrosive product widely used in manufacturing processes and to make common household products such as drain cleaners and oven cleaners. It's also used in the paper, food and textiles industries.

A minor chemical burn can be caused by exposure to products that you wouldn't even think of as hazardous - cleaners, paints, adhesives, fillers, beauty treatment products and so on. If your chemical injury has been caused by the negligence or mistakes of someone else, you could be owed compensation.

Should I stay off work with a minor chemical burn?

Most minor chemical burns affecting the outer layer of skin and some of the underlying layer of tissue will normally heal with good ongoing burn care. But the NHS clearly states that these types of injuries need to be checked and treated in hospital as soon as possible. More severe cases may require surgery or physiotherapy to support healing and recovery.

As you recover, you may be required to visit your GP surgery to have dressings changed, perhaps as frequently as every two days. Having to wear a dressing and keep it clean and dry can make it impossible to return to work. Just as importantly, you should avoid knocking the affected area. You may even be told to keep an arm or leg raised to reduce swelling.

For all these reasons, staying off work for a few days or longer after a minor chemical burn may be necessary in certain jobs and work environments. This could mean you lose out financially - one of the many reasons to claim chemical burn at work compensation.

Did your chemical injury happen at work?

Unfortunately, chemical injuries in the workplace aren't uncommon. After all, the use of industrial-grade chemicals is more likely to have harmful side effects than those used at home. But simply being around chemicals at work doesn't mean you should be exposed to them.

Accidents such as chemical burns and prolonged exposure are more likely to happen if your employer doesn't follow the appropriate safety regulations. They have a duty of care to keep you and your colleagues safe from dangerous substances on the job. If they've failed in this regard, they've put you at risk unnecessarily and you have every right to make a claim for chemical injury compensation.

What are my employer's responsibilities?

Your employer has specific rules to follow, as laid out in The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). These provide guidance to employers on managing all types of dangerous substances. Following COSHH regulations should help to minimise the risk of chemical accidents and harmful exposure in the workplace.

Under COSHH, employers must:

• Carry out risk assessments: Employers should complete risk assessments where appropriate and subsequently put in place measures to minimise the risks and hazards identified.
• Provide the appropriate staff training: All too often, workers handle chemicals before having the chance to attend adequate training. This is a clear violation of any employer's duty of care.
• Provide the appropriate PPE: All personal protective equipment should be in good condition and suitable for the chemicals being used. This may include gloves, gauntlets, aprons, goggles and RPE (respiratory protective equipment).
• Safely store chemicals: Handling and storing hazardous substances safely is vital during transportation and while on the premises. This includes clear, safety labels, symbols and signage. Spilling badly stored substances is a common cause of chemical accidents in the workplace.
• Regular cleaning: This may be necessary to minimise the risk of employees touching spilt chemicals.

Any harmful products you use at work should be clearly labelled and come with relevant instructions for use if necessary. Warning symbols should also be shown, such as the international hazard pictograms. You should also have easy access to a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for any hazardous substances you're working with.

Did your employer fail to uphold their duty of care? Have you experienced a chemical inhalation injury, poisoning or a chemical burn at work as a result? We may be able to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call our friendly team on  or request a call back to find out if you have a claim today.

Why make a chemical injury claim?

Any type of chemical burn or injury can be extremely painful, as we know from helping people who have experienced them. They can sometimes have life-altering consequences, such as disability or disfigurement. And even if your chemical injury isn't that serious, it could stop you from enjoying your everyday life. The psychological impacts are often just as significant as the physical.

Making a chemical poisoning claim or a claim for chemical injury compensation can help to make things right. A payout could cover the costs of your injury, including any time off work and medical bills. It can also help cover other costs that your injury may have caused you, including prescriptions, travel and lifestyle changes. Your psychological suffering will also be taken into consideration.

Can I claim for chemical injury compensation?

If you were exposed to a harmful substance at work or in public and it caused you an injury, then you may be able to make a claim. The injury will also need to have been wholly or partially someone else's fault. In most cases, it will need to have happened in the last three years (more on limitation periods below).

You may be trying to decide whether your injury justifies making a chemical injury claim - and that's where we can help. A quick call to our friendly, personal injury advisors on  will give you more information and clarity on whether you can claim.

We'll listen to what happened and ask a few questions about your injury. We'll then let you know if you may be eligible to make a claim. If you want to go ahead, we'll put you in contact with an expert solicitor from our nationwide panel.

Remember: your call is free and confidential, with no obligation to make a claim. 

What are the time limits for making a chemical injury compensation claim?

Every accident involving chemical exposure is different, but generally, it is required for claims to either have been settled or court proceedings to have started within three years. This period is referred to as the limitation period.

If you're nearing this three-year deadline, give us a call on . The sooner you get in touch with us to start the claims process, the better.

There are some exceptions to this three-year rule, however. Some that may be relevant to chemical poisoning claims or accidents involving harmful substances include:

• Mental capacity: There are no time limits for claims made on behalf of someone who lacks the capacity to manage their own case. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis and requires more than simply needing assistance. If the claimant regains capacity at any point after the accident, even briefly, the standard three-year period will begin from that date and won't stop again. This means the claim must either be settled or court proceedings must be initiated within that timeframe.
• Fatal claims: If you're claiming on behalf of a loved one, you have three years from the date of their passing or from the date it was discovered that a chemical-related injury or illness was the cause. Within this period, the chemical injury claim must either be resolved or legal proceedings must have commenced.
• Accidents on ships: After a chemical accident on a passenger ferry or cargo ship, you typically have two years from the date you left the vessel or the date of injury to either settle your claim or for court proceedings to begin.
• Children's claims: If you are a parent or guardian of a child who has been injured by a chemical substance, you may be able to claim on their behalf. You can claim at any point before the child's 18th birthday. After turning 18, they have until age 21 to either settle their claim or start court proceedings.

Claiming chemical injury compensation from an employer

You may worry about claiming chemical burn at work compensation because you think your employer will treat you differently. It's important to know that any dismissal or unfair treatment because of a claim is against the law. You'd have the right to take legal action.

You may also be worried that claiming will leave your employer with financial difficulties - but there's no need. Every employer must take out employers' liability insurance, which would cover the cost of any chemical injury compensation.

Importantly, making a claim following a chemical accident in the workplace often highlights the causes of accidents and general safety issues. Speaking up about your injury could help to protect your colleagues from getting injured in the future.

How much chemical injury compensation could I receive?

Every case and claim is different, so the amount of chemical exposure compensation you might be entitled to depends on your circumstances. Various factors are considered, including:

• The type and severity of your burns, injury or illness.
• The degree of negligence or carelessness that caused your chemical injury.
• The impact your accident has had on your life.
• Any medical and transport costs you've had to pay following your injuries.
• Any financial losses you've suffered or expect to suffer in the future.
• Any ongoing care needs you may have.

The solicitor we pair you with from our nationwide panel will do everything they can to get you the full amount of compensation you deserve. If you'd like a rough idea of how much you could be entitled to, try our simple compensation calculator. It gives you figures based on the latest edition of the Judicial College Guidelines. 

Why choose National Accident Helpline for your chemical injury claim?

Whether you suffered a chemical injury at work or in public, you shouldn't have to live with the consequences of someone else's negligence. Even if you work in a hazardous industry, your employer has a duty to protect you from substances that could cause you harm.

If someone let you down, we're here to help you get the chemical exposure worker's compensation you deserve. Here are a few reasons you can trust us:

• We've provided confidential, compassionate and expert support for over years_since years.
• We always deliver the highest professional standards, with our services authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• All the solicitors in our nationwide panel are registered with The Law Society in England and Wales or the Law Society of Scotland.
• See the thousands of positive reviews left by people like you - the backbone for our 'Excellent' rating on Trustpilot.