Workers can make a claim with their state's workers' compensation agency to receive financial compensation if they have been harmed by exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. In most states, exposure to toxic substances at work is treated as a workers' compensation claim. Exposure to toxic substances can cause long-term injury or chronic illness and disability. If you think you have been affected by toxic exposure at work, speak to your doctor about your concerns and begin the process of filing a claim.
What Types of Toxic Exposures Are There?
There are numerous different types of toxic substances that a worker might be exposed to in the workplace. Some of the most common are:
Chemicals that can cause burns, such as acids, bases, and alcohols.
Chemicals that can cause cancer, such as asbestos and benzene.
Chemicals that can cause neurological damage, such as lead and mercury.
Chemicals that can irritate the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes such as acid anhydrides and chlorine derivatives.
Chemicals that can cause respiratory damage, such as asbestos and nickel.
Chemicals that can cause liver damage, such as Carbon tetrarch.
If My Employer Took Precautions, Do I Still Have a Workers' Comp Claim?
In some cases, your employer was proactive and took the necessary precautions to protect you from the harmful substances you were working with, but you still sustained an injury. Some manufacturers of harmful chemicals have also included warnings with their products to alert employers and workers of the dangers of exposure to toxic substances in the workplace. If you have been harmed as a worker, this is not an indication that you have less of a workers' compensation claim.
Get Advice from Your Doctor and Lawyer
If you have suffered an illness due to toxic exposure at work, get legal advice to help you discern if you can file a workers' compensation claim. After getting medical attention and having the medicines and treatments needed to heal your injury, speak to an attorney about your options for workers' compensation.
Types of Benefits Available
The following are the most common types of benefits a worker can receive for injuries sustained due to toxic exposure at the workplace:
1 - Medical Benefits
There are many different medical treatments that a worker may need after sustaining a toxic exposure injury. Workers' compensation will help cover the costs of these medical treatments.
2 - Temporary Total Disability Benefits
Temporary total disability benefits are paid when the worker is unable to work because of the injury. This includes the period of time that the worker needs to recover from the injury and the subsequent period of time that the worker is unable to perform his or her usual occupation.
3 - Permanent Partial Disability Benefits
Permanent partial disability benefits are provided when the worker is left with an incapacitating injury that prevents them from working in the same occupation as before.
Conclusion
If you are a worker and have been exposed to a toxic substance in the workplace, you may have a legal claim. There are many different types of toxic substances that can cause harm to workers in the workplace. Some of the most common include chemicals that can cause burns, cancer, neurological damage, respiratory damage, liver damage, and irritation to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Your employer was expected to keep you safe at work. If you were harmed by toxic exposure at work, speak to your doctor and begin the process of filing a workers' compensation claim with a compensation consultant.
If you are looking for workers' compensation consultants in Northern CA, come to Pacific Workers! We are known as The Lawyers for Injured Workers and want to help you get your best shot at getting compensation for your injury. Book a free consultation with the best work injury lawyers by calling 800-606-6999.