Your life can change in an instant if you get hurt at work. If you or someone you care about got hurt at work, you might think you should talk to a lawyer. Because of your injuries, you may have to pay for medical bills, lose money and/or be unable to work. You may also worry about getting in trouble at work or losing your job. These benefits also cover work-related diseases and health problems, as long as they are caused by a person’s job duties or work surroundings.

Some Of The Most Common Occupational Diseases

Occupational disease are different from many other accidents protected by workers’ compensation because they are almost always caused by repeated contact with something harmful at work, not by a single event. The most common illnesses that can be caused by work are:

• Skin conditions: Some skin diseases, like eczema, can be caused by direct contact with a dangerous chemical in an accident or spill, but most of the time, they are caused by tiny particles of an offensive substance over time. Cleaning products, chemicals, chemical-based solvents, and products like gelatin can cause allergic reactions.

• Respiratory problems: People who work in places where there are pollutants or gases in the air often get respiratory illnesses and other breathing problems. Asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) are two conditions that can happen. People working in construction, farms, mines or power industries are especially at risk.

• Hear and eyesight loss: Employees who work in places with bright lights, loud noises, and other things that strain the eyes and ears may lose their vision and hear over time. Some toxic chemicals can also make it hard to see or hear.

• Infectious diseases: Because they work with patients, health care workers are frequently at risk of getting a disease that can spread. Some of the most common viral infections in workers’ compensation cases are TB, hepatitis B and C, and HIV. During the COVID-19 pandemic, workers in any industry who get the coronavirus at work may also be qualified for workers’ compensation benefits.

• Mental health problems: Workers’ compensation may pay for some mental health problems, especially if they are caused by a traumatic accident at work. Depression, worry, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all examples.

• Cancer: Some workers are exposed to carcinogens, which can cause cancer, even if they are only in small amounts at work. Mesothelioma is a common type of cancer that can be caused by work. It is caused by contact with asbestos, which construction and building workers often do. Cancer of the lungs, skin cancer, and cancer of the bladder are also often linked to how a person works.

Conclusion

If you have an occupational disease, you need to talk to a skilled Workers’ Compensation Lawyer who can help you file a claim. We have a lot of experience handling cases for a wide range of occupational diseases at Gaylord and Nantais. We are here to help you get the right amount of pay. Give Workers’ Compensation Lawyer call at (562) 561-2669 to set up a free appointment.