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Recognise the signs and act early
If you think your health problems may be linked to work, take them seriously. Industrial diseases can develop slowly, so symptoms are sometimes missed at first.
Common signs can include breathing problems, skin irritation, hearing loss, pain in the joints, or feeling generally unwell after exposure at work. Keep a note of when symptoms started and whether they get worse during or after shifts.
Tell your employer
Report your concerns to your manager, supervisor, or health and safety representative as soon as possible. Explain what you think has caused the problem and what symptoms you are experiencing.
Your employer should take your report seriously and may need to review the workplace risks. They may also need to adjust your duties, improve controls, or arrange further assessments.
Get medical advice
Make an appointment with your GP or occupational health service if you have one. Tell them you think your condition may be related to your job, because that can help them ask the right questions.
You may be referred for tests, specialist treatment, or advice on whether your condition could be work-related. Keep copies of any letters, test results, and prescriptions.
Keep records and gather evidence
Write down details of your job, the substances or processes you were exposed to, and how long you worked around them. Include dates, symptoms, and any incidents that may have made things worse.
If possible, keep copies of training records, risk assessments, accident reports, and emails about the hazard. This information can be useful if you later need to make a claim or ask for an investigation.
Check your rights and seek support
You may be entitled to sick pay, benefits, or compensation if your illness was caused by work. In many cases, you can get advice from a trade union, Citizens Advice, or a solicitor who deals with workplace illness.
If the exposure involved a serious safety concern, you can also raise it with the Health and Safety Executive. They can investigate certain risks and take action where laws may have been broken.
Don’t wait to take action
The sooner you act, the easier it may be to protect your health and prevent further exposure. Early reporting can also help other workers avoid the same problem.
If you are unsure whether your condition is an industrial disease, speak to a doctor or workplace adviser anyway. It is better to ask early than to delay until the problem becomes more serious.
Frequently Asked Questions
They should seek medical attention promptly and tell the clinician about their job, exposures, and symptoms.
Early reporting can help with diagnosis, treatment, workplace adjustments, and prevention of further exposure.
Yes, they should report their concerns to their employer or supervisor and follow workplace reporting procedures.
They should note the substances, tasks, dates, duration of exposure, symptoms, and any protective equipment used.
Yes, they should still see a doctor and mention that they think the condition may be related to work.
Yes, keeping a symptom diary can help identify patterns and support medical evaluation.
That pattern may suggest a work-related cause, so the worker should inform a healthcare professional and report it to the employer.
Yes, the worker should continue using required controls and protective equipment unless advised otherwise.
Yes, mentioning similar symptoms in coworkers may help identify a shared workplace exposure.
They should document concerns, use formal reporting channels, and seek advice from a union, safety representative, or legal advisor if needed.
Yes, they can request an assessment of the work environment and exposure levels through the employer or safety team.
Yes, they should keep copies of all medical notes, incident reports, and exposure records.
They can ask for a second medical opinion or further evaluation if symptoms and exposure history still suggest a workplace cause.
If possible and safe, they should reduce or avoid further exposure until a medical and workplace review is completed.
Yes, medical evidence is often important for confirming the diagnosis and linking it to work exposure.
Yes, they can get support from a union, safety representative, or occupational health service.
They should ask their employer or occupational health provider about temporary duties or other adjustments.
Yes, identifying specific substances can help healthcare providers and safety staff assess the risk.
Yes, they should follow up if symptoms continue, worsen, or if more test results or workplace information become available.
The safest approach is to seek medical care, document exposures and symptoms, report the concern, and request a workplace review as soon as possible.
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