Miners hail injury campaign victory

Thousands of ex-miners from across Britain have breathed a sigh of relief this week as the government announced they will be able to claim compensation for injuries that they suffered at work. Over recent years most headlines have been devoted to the long struggle for asbestos victims to win compensation from their former employers, but one widespread problem has received considerably less fanfare.

Osteoarthritis, also known as 'Miners' Knee', has affected thousands of workers and has left them with long-term pain and mobility issues.

Widespread problem

Miners' Knee is the result of the cartilage around the knee being destroyed, which changes affecting the ability of the joint to function properly. Symptoms can be very severe with reports of swelling, stiffness and long-term pain. Many who have suffered from the condition have ended up having to have replacement surgery to correct their mobility problems.

According to experts, there may be as many as 10,000 ex-miners who have developed the condition and many had to leave their jobs because of the effects of the injury. The condition is caused by the harsh wear and tear on joints when working down in the shafts. Many miners frequently spent eight hour shifts crawling along tight tunnels, sometimes in deep water.

“Both of my knees got so bad from crawling along seams that I could not kneel down and sometimes could hardly walk. I endured many years of pain and discomfort, and could hardly get to sleep with the pain at times,” said one miner.

Campaign

Because of the sheer number of people affected by this injury there has obviously been massive pressure on the government to recognise the issue and make a final decision on whether victims would be eligible for compensation. Support groups, along with families and their lawyers, have spent many years attempting to finalise the issue and make it possible for miners suffering from this condition to make personal injury claims against their previous employers.

This week Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell, clarified the position of the government. Acting on advice from the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Purnell said that miners who had worked for more than ten years underground would now be eligible to receive help through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

"It is right that this help should be available to coal miners who are suffering from this painful condition following years of hard work. This disease has made life very difficult for a large number of retired miners and forced others to end their working life earlier than planned, so I am pleased that we are now in a position to be able to offer them valuable financial assistance," said Purnell.

According to the government, the decision will come into force during the summer months, but some campaigners, while hailing this a victory, expressed worry over how many people would actually qualify. Union leaders, who have been at the forefront of the campaign have warned that the “devil was in the detail” as to how successful the new help would be.

"At long last miners' knee will be recognised as a prescribed condition and that means thousands of miners will be able to claim compensation,” added MP Ian McCartney.