Miners Compensation Claim Victory By:Musa Aliyu

Although it seems too early to begin celebrating, it is nonetheless a worthy achievement deserving of praise. The campaign to enable miners across the UK make compensation claims for illness and injuries sustained after being exposed to workplace hazards was launched by the Lanark and Hamilton East MP, Jimmy Hood. The journey may not have been smooth, but today its success is clear as Secretary of State for Works and Pensions, James Purnell, confirmed that osteoarthritis of the knee would be added to the list of prescribed diseases.

Bent knee

Following years of a working routine in which they spent up to six hours a day kneeling in sludge and cold water or crawling along a coal face less than 3 feet high, cartilage around the knee joints of many miners suffered irreparable damage. Also arising from this were changes to the bone and joint space between the bones.

The major impact of this industrial hazard miners are exposed to is that they suffer osteoarthritis of the knee, which is also referred to as the miners' knee or bent knee. Its features are usually pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility. However, despite the impact of this affliction on their entire health and ability to work, miners were not entitled to any special financial help from the government.

Against the above backdrop, Mr Hood, backed by other labour MPS, began the campaign that would change their situation and bring some help to the doorstep of the hundreds of miners that are today retired but permanently carrying the painful reminder of the hazard of the profession they dedicated their time and energy to.

compensation

Praising the MP for his relentless effort, James Purnell said: "Jimmy Hood has been a strong voice for former miners in parliament. It is thanks to his campaigning that miners, after years of hard work underground, will be getting this extra help."

The Secretary of State went on to explain how glad he was that after years of suffering, with many miners being forced into an early retirement by the disease, the government was now prepared to offer them 'valuable financial compensation.'

Claiming benefit

The change in policy that will result in the offer of financial assistance to the affected miners is expected to come into effect during the summer. And the government will be acting fully on the recommendation from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council that coal miners who have worked underground for 10 years or more should be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Although this decision is coming exactly two decades and a half after the miners' strike, it still goes a long way to serve its purpose of alleviating the suffering of many miners. Hundreds of the victims had, prior to this decision, been left on their own to bemoan their fate as the crippling effect of the industrial injury continued to take its toll on them.

The relevance of the success of this campaign is that it will re-energize the efforts of campaigners to reduce workplace accidents and injuries, particularly for people working underground. It will also reassure victims that there is always some light at the end of the long tunnel.