Toxic Exposure in the Workplace

Don’t think that just because you didn’t break a bone or get a visible cut, you don’t have a workers compensation case.

One thing that any experienced work injury lawyer will tell you is that a high percentage of workers’ compensation cases do not involve a gruesome injury. In fact, less apparent injuries make up the majority of cases. One of these types of ailments is toxic exposure. Those who have been exposed to toxins at work are at risk for a variety of symptoms and are often eligible for workers’ compensation or some other type of benefit. Here’s what you need to know about toxic exposure.

Most Common Toxins

Common workplace toxins include asbestos, hydrogen peroxide, benzene, chloroform, arsenic, ammonia, lead, formaldehyde, mercury, iodine, and uranium. Though these are some of the most common toxins, there are many more out there.

Symptoms

Just like there are scores of toxins that might affect you, there are also a significant amount of possible symptoms. Some typical ones are nausea, back pain, rashes, infertility, coughing, and anemia.

Precautions to Take

If you regularly work with toxic substances, your employer should have safety precautions in place. If they do, be sure to follow those guidelines religiously. The best way to avoid exposure is by putting physical barriers between you and the substance. That might mean a mask to breathe through, a pair of rubber gloves, or any other obstacle.

Workers Comp vs. Negligence

The legality of workers’ compensation cases is that neither party is found negligent. Instead, they agree on a fair payment without assigning blame. There are two key takeaways from this. The first is that even if your employer takes appropriate safety precautions, you can still get payment from them. The second is that if your employer does something like intentionally harm you, you will likely want to explore options beyond worker’s compensation.

What to Do About It

The best thing you can do for your immediate health and your possible benefits is to see a doctor. For this initial consultation, you will want to confirm that your symptoms are in fact coming from toxic exposure. When you do, you can receive the medical treatment you need to get better. Next, once your doctor confirms your suspicions about toxins, you will benefit from speaking with an experienced workers comp attorney. Your lawyer will listen to your case, help you compile evidence, and prepare you for your next steps. After an initial consultation with a lawyer, it is time to file the necessary paperwork with your employer. Once you do, the process of your workers’ compensation claim will begin.

Don’t think that just because you didn’t break a bone or get a visible cut, you don’t have a case for compensation. Plenty of workers with less visible injuries win claims every day, and you could too. To better understand your chances at receiving workers comp benefits, you should discuss your claim with a workers compensation lawyer.