Compensation for Occupational Diseases
Within the umbrella of workers’ compensation, there are many different types of accidents, injuries, and illnesses. One subset of the workers’ compensation system is the occupational disease. If you think that you have sustained an illness due to unsafe working conditions, your situation may fall into this category.
Each occupational disease case is different and some jobs are more likely to cause these types of conditions than others. However, the standard that one must meet to have an occupational disease claim recognized in the Ohio workers compensation system remains the same regardless of how that condition came about. The disease must be a result of an incident or exposure that happened because of a risks related one’s occupation. One example of is if an employee who works in asbestos removal contracts asbestosis or mesothelioma. Another may be the contraction of COPD or asthma due to exposure to dusts at work. Occupational disease claims work similarly to other types of on-the-job injuries, allowing the injured or ill worker to receive compensation for their medical bills, permanent partial disability, and lost income.
If you or a loved one has become ill due to unsafe working conditions, you may have the right to medical coverage and compensation. However, when it comes to occupational disease, there are specific time limitations in which you need to file. These time limits have a number of factors, so if you believe you have contracted an occupational disease, it is best to contact an attorney as soon as possible to make sure that you take the steps necessary to pursue a claim before it becomes too late.
If you have become ill due to a work-related disease, you should reach out to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. We work with people who contract occupational diseases every single day and we want to help you. This can be a very confusing time; so working with an attorney that knows the ins and outs of the complicated workers’ compensation system can be very beneficial.
Contact a lawyer at The Harris Firm today if you have become ill due to unsafe working conditions.
Who can claim occupational disease compensation?
A condition is classified an occupational disease if the work-related exposure to a workplace harm (including, but not limited to, a dangerous product or toxin) has a harmful effect on the employee. The diagnosis must be medically proven to be a result from the exposure on the job. If this cannot be proven, it becomes more difficult to prove that the illness is a result of the working conditions. Also, the conditions of employment must create a greater hazard to the worker than the general public. This means that the actual job is the cause of the symptoms the employee is suffering.
Many common exposures that cause occupational diseases include exposure to:
- Chemical Exposure
- Radiation
- Exposure to Dust
- Gas or Fumes
- Asbestos
- Infections
- Repeated exposure to vibrating tools
The above list only covers a few examples of common things that could lead to occupational disease. In reality, there are many different factors that can lead to disease, not to mention there are many different jobs; so the combination of any of these factors has the possibility in an occupational disease result.
Some common occupational disease include:
- Coal miners’ pneumoconiosis
- Asbestosis and/or mesothelioma
- Silicosis
- Berylliosis
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Any other disease of the breathing system that has occurred due to repeated exposure of dust.
If you feel as if you have had any prolonged exposure to dangers in the workplace that have resulted in illness or disease, you should seek the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. At The Harris Firm, we work exclusively in workers’ compensation and social security disability, so we know what is necessary to pursue occupational disease claims..
Not only will our attorneys help you through every step of the process, but we will educate you about every thing that we are doing. We will not make a decision or take action without letting you know the details, assuring that you have a say in your own process as well.
Call us today to get this process started.
Other types of Occupational Disease
While most of the diseases listed above involve exposure to toxins and other types of factors, another form of occupational disease includes repetitive use injuries. While injuries as a whole fall into the general term of workers’ compensation, repetitive use injures are sometimes classified as occupational disease. These types of injuries include things such as Carpal Tunnel, tendinitis, tennis elbow, or other repetitive use injuries.
As stated before, there are many diseases that can arise from unsafe work conditions. Oftentimes, when a worker becomes sick, they find themselves confused and unsure of where to go.
You may feel as if you have been backed into a corner; your medical bills are stacking up, so you can’t afford to take the time off of work that you need to heal or even to seek treatment. However, as you work, your health may diminish, leaving you even more sick and financially behind than you would have been if you were to have taken off work to get the proper treatment in the first place. You deserve better than this; you deserve the medical coverage and compensation the workers’ compensation system exists to provide.
If you or a loved one has contracted what you think may be an occupational disease in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area, do not hesitate to contact The Harris Firm today. Our team of experienced workers’ compensation attorneys are here to help you not only receive the financial compensation that you deserve, but also help relieve your stress and anxiety so that you can focus on healing.