PCB Exposure Compensation UK: A Practical Guide to Claiming for Workplace Chemical Exposure and Industrial Disease
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are long-lasting industrial chemicals that can cause health problems years after exposure in the workplace or the environment. This guide explains how to recognise likely exposure, document illness, and pursue PCB exposure compensation in the UK.
You’ll find:
- What PCBs are and where they are still found
- Common workplace and environmental exposure scenarios
- Health problems linked to PCB exposure and how they’re diagnosed
- A step-by-step claims process with a staged overview table
- How to deal with delayed diagnosis, missing records, and insolvent employers
- Employer duties under health and safety law and COSHH
- The main types of compensation and how No Win No Fee PCB claims work
- Short, practical answers to frequently asked questions
This guide is provided by Claim Solutions Scotland Ltd.
We are a claims management company and receive payment from our partnered law firms. If your free claim assessment is successful, you will be connected to a specialist law firm.
Claim Solutions Scotland Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of regulated claims management activities, registration number: 837720.
What Are Polychlorinated Biphenyls and How Does Exposure Occur?
PCBs are a group of chlorinated hydrocarbons once widely used for:
- Electrical insulation
- Heat-transfer fluids
- Industrial lubricants and hydraulic oils
They were popular because they resist heat and do not burn easily. The same chemical stability means PCB residues can persist for decades in oils, sealants, and older electrical equipment, creating ongoing exposure risks in some workplaces and at contaminated sites.
Understanding where PCBs still exist and how people come into contact with them is crucial when building a PCB exposure claim.
What Chemicals Are PCBs and Where Are They Found?
PCBs are mixtures of related chlorinated compounds added to industrial products to improve insulation and heat transfer. Although now banned or heavily restricted, they may still be present in:
- Transformers and capacitors (especially in older plants)
- Fluorescent light ballasts
- Hydraulic and heat-transfer fluids
- Sealants, caulks, and some older paints and adhesives
- Legacy electrical installations and industrial equipment
Sites that used PCB-containing equipment before restrictions came in can still harbour contaminated oils and components. PCBs may be released during:
- Maintenance, repair, or dismantling of legacy equipment
- Demolition or refurbishment of older buildings
- Poorly controlled spills and clean-ups
How Can PCB Exposure Happen at Work or in the Environment?
Workplace exposure
Typical workplace scenarios include:
- Maintenance or repair of transformers and capacitors containing PCB oils
- Demolition or refurbishment of buildings with PCB-containing sealants, paints, or old electrical fittings
- Remediation, excavation, or landfill work on historically contaminated sites
- Industrial or utility work where PCB oils have been spilt and poorly cleaned up
Environmental exposure
Environmental exposure can occur through:
- Living or working near contaminated landfills or industrial sites
- Disturbance of contaminated soil or sediment during construction or remediation
- Entry of PCBs into local food chains, potentially affecting nearby residents and workers
Main exposure routes
- Inhalation: breathing in volatilised PCBs when oils are heated, disturbed, or aerosolised
- Dermal (skin) contact: handling oily residues, contaminated equipment, or dusts
- Ingestion: hand-to-mouth contact or eating food contaminated via the environment
Identifying the most likely route and context helps link a claimant’s job tasks to documented site contamination and monitoring data.
Health Effects and Diagnoses Linked to PCB Exposure
PCB exposure has been associated with a range of health outcomes, including:
- Skin conditions (notably chloracne)
- Liver dysfunction and other organ effects
- Endocrine and reproductive disorders
- Neurological and cognitive symptoms
- Increased risk of some cancers reported in certain datasets
For a legal claim, a diagnosis must be supported by medical records and expert opinion connecting:
- A credible exposure history, and
- A recognised clinical condition compatible with PCB effects
Common Illnesses and Symptoms in PCB Exposure Claims
Some conditions recur in PCB cases. Symptoms and latency vary, so careful documentation is vital.
Quick reference: PCB-linked conditions and evidence
Non-specific symptoms such as chronic fatigue or general malaise are also often reported, but require thorough medical investigation to link them to PCBs rather than other causes.
Recording onset, progression, and specialist assessments (with dates) helps support causation in a PCB claim.
Who Is Eligible to Claim for PCB Exposure and Industrial Disease?
You may be able to claim if:
- You are a current or former employee exposed to PCBs at work
- You were an agency worker, contractor, or subcontractor who handled PCB-contaminated equipment or materials
- You are a dependant or estate representative of someone who died from a PCB-related occupational disease
Core eligibility requirements in most claims:
- A recognised medical diagnosis compatible with PCB exposure
- Evidence of occupational or environmental exposure to PCBs
- Expert opinion that PCB exposure caused or materially contributed to the condition
- Compliance with relevant time limits (see FAQ section)
Employment records, job descriptions, old site plans, and contamination reports all help establish the exposure history and strengthen eligibility.
Step-by-Step Stages of a PCB Exposure Claim
PCB claims tend to be evidence-heavy and often relate to exposures many years ago. A typical process looks like this:
Initial enquiry and eligibility check
- High-level review of symptoms, work history, and early medical records
- Screening for likely PCB exposure and related diagnoses
Evidence gathering
- Obtain GP and hospital records
- Collect employment records, job descriptions, MSDS, and any site contamination reports
- Take witness statements from colleagues and supervisors
Pre-action protocol and negotiation
- A solicitor sends a letter of claim to the employer or their insurer
- The insurer investigates and responds, often challenging liability and causation
- Parties attempt to negotiate a settlement where possible
Expert instruction and valuation
- Medical experts assess injury, prognosis, and likely future impact
- Economic and vocational experts assess lost earnings, care needs, and future costs
- The solicitor prepares a detailed schedule of loss
Proceedings and resolution
- If a settlement cannot be agreed, court proceedings may be issued
- Disclosure, further expert evidence, and (if necessary) trial
- Many claims still settle before trial once the evidence is fully exchanged
Claims Process Overview
Specialist industrial disease solicitors will usually handle insurer tracing, employer searches, and expert instruction, so you can focus on your health while the legal case progresses.
For claimant-side support, pcbexposureclaims.uk (an example specialist PCB claims support brand) can help with an initial eligibility check and, if appropriate, connect you to a specialist law firm.
Employer’s Duty of Care and Liability in PCB Exposure Cases
Employers owe both common law and statutory duties to protect workers from hazardous substances such as PCBs.
Key legal frameworks include:
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Requires employers to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees.
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations
Require employers to:
- Identify hazardous substances (including PCBs where present)
- Carry out risk assessments
- Implement suitable control measures (engineering controls, safe systems of work, PPE)
- Provide information, training, and instruction
- Monitor exposure where appropriate and maintain control measures
Common failings in PCB cases include:
- No, or inadequate, risk assessment for PCB-containing equipment or sites
- Poorly controlled maintenance and removal of PCB oils or components
- Lack of training or PPE, or failure to enforce safe use
- Inadequate clean-up after spills or leaks
- Missing or incomplete records of equipment contents and contamination
Evidence of such failings can strongly support a civil negligence claim.
Tracing Former Employers and Insurers for PCB Claims
Because PCB exposure often dates back many years, employers may have:
- Changed ownership
- Merged with other businesses
- Ceased trading or entered insolvency
Tracing who is now responsible, and which insurer should respond, usually involves:
- Searching the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) for historic policies
- Checking Companies House filings for corporate history, mergers, and insolvency events
- Reviewing pension or HR records for information about employer and insurer arrangements
- Looking for successor companies that may have inherited liabilities
Specialist industrial disease solicitors use targeted searches and formal information requests to build the insurer chain and ensure the claim is directed at the correct defendant.
Practical tracing steps
- Search ELTO for historic employers’ liability policies
- Review Companies House entries and insolvency records
- Gather employment documents (contracts, payslips, P60s, redundancy letters)
- Ask your solicitor to review potential successor liability and insurance transfers
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive for PCB Exposure?
Compensation in PCB claims typically includes:
- General damages: for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity
- Special damages (past losses): lost earnings, travel costs, medical expenses, care already provided
- Future losses: reduced earning capacity, ongoing care, adaptations, and future treatment costs
Damages and evidence
To support these heads of loss, claimants should keep:
- Specialist medical reports and consultant letters
- Payslips, P60s, and employment records to evidence income loss
- Receipts and invoices for treatment, travel, and care
- Expert assessments for future care and earnings projections
How Does a No Win No Fee Toxic Chemical Claim Lawyer Help?
A No Win No Fee toxic chemical solicitor can:
- Assess eligibility and prospects at an early stage
- Help you plan and secure medical and employment evidence
- Trace former employers and historic liability insurers
- Instruct appropriate medical, care, and financial experts
- Manage pre-action protocols, negotiation, and (if needed) court proceedings
With a conditional fee agreement:
- You usually do not pay standard legal fees upfront
- If the claim succeeds, the solicitor’s costs and any success fee are taken as agreed (often partly from the defendant and partly from compensation, within legal caps)
- If the claim fails, your exposure to your own solicitor’s fees is typically limited, subject to the terms of the agreement and any ATE insurance
Experienced industrial disease solicitors also focus on long-term needs, ensuring settlements take account of future treatment, care, and financial impact, not just immediate losses.
Regulatory information and how we work
No Win No Fee: Typically, customers pay 20% inclusive of VAT of the compensation amount recovered by our third-party law firms, although this depends on your circumstances. Termination fees may apply if you do not keep to the terms of the agreement.
What should I do if I suspect PCB exposure?
- See your GP or another healthcare professional as soon as possible.
- Explain your work history, the equipment or materials you handled, and any spills or incidents.
- Keep a written record of symptoms and suspected exposure events.
- Gather employment documents (contracts, payslips, site inductions) and, if safe, photos of relevant equipment or locations.
- Contact a specialist industrial disease solicitor to discuss evidence collection and next steps.
How long do I have to make a PCB exposure claim?
In most UK personal injury cases, you have three years from:
- The date of diagnosis, or
- The date you first knew (or reasonably should have known) that your illness was linked to PCB exposure
Special rules apply for:
- Children
- Individuals who lack mental capacity
Because limitation is fact-sensitive, you should obtain legal advice as early as possible to confirm deadlines and ensure evidence is preserved.
Can family members claim compensation for PCB-related illnesses?
Yes. Dependants and estates may be able to bring a claim if a worker died from a PCB-related disease caused by occupational exposure. A solicitor can advise:
- Who has standing to bring the claim
- What evidence is required (medical, employment, exposure records)
- Which legal routes (dependants’ claims, fatal accident claims) are available
What evidence is needed to support a PCB claim?
Key evidence includes:
- Medical records and specialist reports confirming diagnosis and prognosis
- Employment records showing where you worked, when, and in what role
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and site documentation confirming PCB use or contamination
- Witness statements from colleagues and supervisors about tasks, spills, or removal of PCB equipment
- Expert medico-legal reports linking your condition to PCB exposure
The stronger and more up-to-date the evidence, the better your prospects of success.
Are there costs involved in making a PCB claim?
There can be costs for:
- Medical assessments and expert reports
- Court fees if proceedings are issued
However, many specialist firms offer No Win No Fee funding, meaning you will not pay their standard legal fees if the claim is unsuccessful. Always ask:
- How success fees are calculated and capped
- What happens to disbursements (expert fees, court fees) if you lose
- Whether ATE insurance is recommended to protect against adverse costs
What happens if my claim is denied?
If an insurer denies liability:
- Your solicitor will review the reasons and any evidence relied upon
- They may obtain further expert evidence, challenge factual points, or seek additional documents from the defendant
- If necessary, they can issue court proceedings and let a judge decide based on all the evidence
Early involvement of experienced solicitors increases the likelihood of identifying gaps and pursuing the best next step if liability is contested.
Conclusion
PCB exposure claims are complex but manageable with the right evidence and specialist support.
By:
- Documenting your medical condition and exposure history
- Tracing relevant employment, site, and insurer records
- Working with experienced industrial disease solicitors under suitable funding arrangements
You improve your ability to present your case clearly and seek appropriate compensation for your health problems and financial losses.