Cincinnati, OH Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
As of April 6, 2007, rules have gone into effect allowing firefighters with cancer to more easily able to pursue workers’ compensation claims. This change exists because the legislature passed presumptive cancer legislation – meaning that there is a presumption that cancer developed by firefighters may be work related. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will assume that cancer is work related if a firefighter meets all of the following criteria:
- Worked as a firefighter
- Worked, at a minimum, for six years of hazardous duty, at least part of which must have occurred within the past 20 years
- Was exposed to an agent classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 or Group 2A carcinogen(s) while working as a firefighter
- Has a cancer diagnosis, and is not over 70 years old
It should be noted that, because this rule went into effect on April 6, 2017, it applies only to firefighters who meet any one of the following three criteria after that date:
- Diagnosed with cancer
- Treated for cancer
- Forced to quit work due to cancer
If any one of these three things happened after April 6, 2017, and a firefighter meets the preceding list of requirements a workers’ compensation claim is likely to be granted.
Given these new laws, if you are a firefighter who has been diagnosed with cancer, you should definitely look into pursuing a workers’ compensation claim. The attorneys at The Harris Firm can definitely help with that process. Feel free to call our office today at 513-891-3270 to speak to an attorney about cancer claims for firefighters.