Some of the most rewarding careers involve regular interaction with dangerous chemicals and toxic substances so those workplaces obviously imply a higher level of risk for employees. However, when employees suffer workplace injuries like burns, poisonings or worse due to wrongful exposure to hazard, they have a right to fight for compensation.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health lists over 600 workplace chemical hazards, but a few common sources of injury include the following:
- Benzene — If your work involves burning coal, exposure to motor vehicle exhaust or industrial solvents, you may face high levels of benzene which can lead to cancer, anemia and birth defects.
- Beryllium — People working at coal-fired power plants and some areas of manufacturing may be endangered by this Category 1 carcinogen responsible for sensitization and disabling or fatal respiratory disease.
- Copper — Jobs that involve copper dust or fumes on a regular basis can damage eyes, lungs and the liver while increasing the chances for kidney diseases.
- Diesel — Those exposed to toxic interactions in chemical manufacturing or research are at risk for poisoning by chemical mixtures including diesel. Underground mines, in addition to oil refineries and gas stations, have severe overexposure problems with fumes that cause eye, lung and brain damage.
- Hydrogen Sulfide — This highly toxic and flammable gas is also present in oil refineries and other industries and can permanently damage eyesight and even induce comas.
- Pesticides — An increasingly diverse range of chemicals are present in rural industries, and from increased cancer rates to chances for autoimmune and brain diseases, the dangers are just as wide-ranging.
Any substance that harms an employee can be the subject of a personal injury lawsuit even years after the damage has been done. Though employees may never fully heal, they can usually win compensation for medical and other costs by either challenging the manufacturer of the substance or the party responsible for the ineffective safety measures. If you have a workplace injury case, don’t hesitate to seek the experienced counsel of The Kyle Law Firm attorneys to win the fight for your workplace rights and the compensation you deserve.
