Workers' Compensation: Exposure To Chemicals
Brian O Sutter
Personal Injury
Accidents can happen anywhere, but when your injured at work it can change a few things. If you are the cause of your own accident, there is not too much you can do about it. However, if the accident was caused due to the actions or neglect of the company or another employee, you may be able to file for workers' compensation and receive financial help. This can assist you in covering medical costs and of any lost wages due to the injury. What happens when your injury is due to being exposed to chemicals on the job? Can it count towards workers' compensation? The quick answer is yes. However, it can be a lot more complicated than that.
What Is Workers' Compensation?
When a worker is injured on the job, workers' compensation allows them to get financial compensation for their injuries. Workers' Compensation is designed to provide an array of protections for the worker and to ensure that any worker who is injured is able to pay their medical bills and are able to continue supporting themselves and their family. However, if the injured were caused by your own actions or neglect, it does not count.
What Counts Towards Workers' Compensation?
Common work-related injuries covered by workers' compensation are neck injuries, back injuries, joint injuries, loss of limb use, carpal tunnel, occupational diseases, and work-related heart attack or stroke. However, workers' compensation can go beyond common injuries such as being exposed to toxic substances. Toxic substances can be found in a lot of things so it isn't unusual for someone to find or use them in the workplace, but some jobs use them a lot more than others.
This does not mean that any kind of exposure will count towards workers' compensation. With chemicals in everything from cleaning products to perfume, you are most likely exposed to at least a few toxins everyday. For the exposure to count towards workers' compensation, the exposure must happen at your place of work, cause serious damage to your health, and have nothing to do with your own actions or neglect.
What Is A Toxic Substance?
A toxic substance is any substance that is poisonous or causes negative health effects. Generally people are concerned about chemicals like poly-chlorinated biphenyls and dioxin which is commonly found at hazardous waste sites. However, products that are used daily like household cleaners, gasoline, alcohol, pesticides, and cosmetics can also be toxic. By law, products must have a warning label if they could be toxic to the user.
What Should You Do If Your Exposed To Chemicals At Work?
If you believe that you may have already been exposed to a toxin or chemical, you should seek medical attention immediately. Any hesitation could greatly damage your health and makes it more likely that your injuries will be permanent. That aside, delaying medical treatment can hurt your ability to receive financial compensation for your injuries.
If you live or work in the southwest Florida area and have been exposed to chemicals on the job, make sure to contact All Injuries Law Firm. We have more than 30 years experience in personal injury and workers' compensation cases and are dedicated to getting you the financial compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.