Common Industrial Diseases

Tuberculosis. TB infection.

e.g. Health workers

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis or Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis- including Farmer’s Lung, Mushroom Workers Lung

Exposure to moulds or fungal spores e.g. Agriculture

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis and Primary Carcinoma of the bronchus or lung. Including Mesothelioma & Benign Plural Thickening.

Exposure to fumes, dust or vapour inc arsenic & asbestos exposure. Exposure to Coal Dust e.g. Mining

Byssinosis. A respiratory condition

Factory workers - processing of raw cotton.

Lung / Pulmonary Fibrosis inc. Asbestosis, Silicosis, Farmers Lung, Mushroom Workers lung

Exposure to allergens such as Mould or Fungal Spores. Exposure to dust inc. Asbestos, Beryllium E.g. Agricultural & Factory workers.

Caplan Syndrome (Rheumatoid Pneumoconiosis)

Sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis exposed to mining dust, such as coal, silica, or asbestos.

Industrial Skin Diseases

Example Cause / Job

Contact Vitiligo (Lightening of the skin) or Chemical Leukoderma.

Exposure to chemicals such as 4-tertbutylphenol, hydroquinone etc.

Dermatitis (Contact, UV or Allergic)

Inflammation of the skin due to Allergic or immune response to a chemical or antigen. Exposure to Industrial Chemicals.

Subcutaneous Cellulitis (Bursitis) of the hand / Knee / Elbow / Shoulder

Manual labour causing severe or prolonged external friction or pressure.

Industrial Related Neuropathies & Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI's)

Example Cause / Job

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Use of hand-held powered tools or repeated palmar flexion and dorsiflexion of the wrist.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Exposure to the fumes or vapour of carbon disulphide e.g. plumbers, painters, enamellers, pottery glazing workers.

Raynaud’s Phenomenon & Raynaud's Disease (commonly misspelt as "Reynaud's").

Exposure to vinyl chloride in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAV) inc. Vibration White Finger (VWF) and Raynaud's phenomenon.

Caused by repeated and frequent use of hand held vibrating tools.

Tenosynovitis (Traumatic inflammation of the tendons)

Manual labour, with repetitive movements of the hand or wrist. e.g. routine assembly workers.

Osteoarthritis of the hip

e.g. Agricultural work

Industrial Disease Related Cancers

Example Cause / Job

Acute Non-lymphatic Leukaemia

Exposure to benzene

Some Leukaemias and Cancer of the bone (myeloma), breast, testis or thyroid.

Electromagnetic radiation / ionising particles e.g. nuclear industry / X-ray.

Mesothelioma

End stage cancer related to Asbestosis & Asbestos exposure.

Industrial Related Toxicity

Example Cause / Job

Central Nervous System (CNS) Toxicity inc. Pakinsonism / Neuropsychiatric disease.

Exposure to fumes, dust or vapour inc exposure to manganese e.g. plumbers, painters, enamellers, pottery glazing workers.

Kidney, Liver toxicity.

Exposure to, trichloromethane (also called chloroform).

Other Industrial Related Diseases

Example Cause / Job

Cataract & Loss of Sight

Radiation from red-hot or white-hot material. e.g. glass and metal workers.

Occupational deafness / hearing loss

Excessive noise from industrial machinery / equipment. e.g. power tools