Few of us can have failed to notice the amount of recent press coverage regarding the harmful impact that pesticides are having on our bee population. 
The European Commission have a two-year trial ban of some pesticides used in agriculture and the government are launching an urgent and comprehensive review of the threat. But it’s not just our bees that pesticidepoisoning is effecting. The World Health Organisation estimates that 20,000 to 40,000 people die from accidental pesticide poisoning each year, although most of these deaths occur in developing countries it is by no means a problem limited to the third world.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 10,000-20,000 physician-diagnosed pesticide poisonings occur each year among the approximately 2 million U.S. agricultural workers. And it’s not just agricultural workers that are at risk; groundskeepers, pet groomers, fumigators, and a variety of other occupations are also at risk of exposure to pesticides.
A pesticide is a substance used to control or eliminate a pest, including plant and animal pests. They’re often used in agriculture to allow crops to grow unimpeded and to stop contamination of foodstuffs, thereby protecting human health. However pesticides are not just limited to agriculture, they are often used in homes & commercial properties in the form of insecticides such as ant powder, slug pellets, weed killer and are even used in the textile industry to protect carpets and clothing from insect attack.
Types of pesticide include:
• Fungicides (control fungus & mould)
• Herbicides (weed killers)
• Insecticides (control insects)
• Rodenticides (for rats and mice)
As essential as pesticides are, used incorrectly they can have fatal consequences. Exposure to pesticides can be dangerous as many are poisonous to humans, especially if ingested, inhaled or come into direct contact with the skin.
Symptoms of pesticide poisoning vary depending of the type of pesticide and the level and length of exposure. Abdominal pain, skin disorders, dizziness, headaches, respiratory problems and vomiting are often prevalent for those with regular exposure to pesticides. Medical studies suggest that more severe, but less common, effects of exposure to pesticides may include Cancer, Parkinson’s disease and impaired fertility in males.
It is therefore essential that employees working with pesticides either during their manufacture, application or handling of anything treated with pesticides, be properly trained and provided with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as filtration masks, goggles and chemical resistance suits, boots and gloves.
Employers using pesticides have a legal responsibility to do so as safely as possible, protecting all employees from exposure in the workplace. The responsibilities of the employer are clearly defined in the health and safety at work act 1974 and COSHH (The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations) which applies to any pesticide which meets the definition of a substance hazardous to health. There are also specific regulations concerning the use of pesticides– see the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (known as COPR). If these have not been followed and you believe you are suffering from an illness or condition caused by pesticides then you may be entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim.
What to do if you Believe you are Suffering from Pesticide Poisoning
It is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible, so your doctor can keep a record of your symptoms and any treatments. If you have any evidence to support the exposure it is important to keep this, along with receipts for any expenses you may have incurred as a result of your illness such as prescription or travel costs.
We Can Help
If you, a friend or a member of your family, have suffered due to pesticide poisoning then you may be entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim. Our friendly specialist advisors can talk to you about your situation and see if you have a valid compensation claim. There is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.
If You Have a Genuine Claim, Contact a Genuine Company.
May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770
If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.
Call us now on 0800 756 7774 and talk to us to find out if you have a claim - or fill in our Quick Claim form (on the right of this page).
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http://info.mayiclaim.co.uk/personal_injury_compensation_claim_news/bid/314122/We-Know-Pesticide-Poisoning-is-Bad-for-Bees-but-What-About-Us
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