When we consider employees who face risky situations at their jobs, we might think about fields where there could be a higher degree of work-related injuries, such as employment in factories or warehouses. The truth is many people also face the possibility of acquiring an illness while at work. If you contract an occupational disease, your symptoms could be debilitating, and in some cases, fatal.
If you have been injured at work and want to know what your next steps should be, contact the Ohio workers’ compensation lawyers from Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co. LPA at (419) 625-7770 to schedule a free and confidential case consultation today.
Five Jobs That Have a High Risk of Occupational Diseases
While anyone with a job that forces them to interact with other people could catch a common cold, some workers are at risk for more serious problems. Listed below are five industries in which employees face threats of becoming infected with an occupational disease:
Health Care
Health care workers are exposed to countless diseases and illnesses at their jobs. Medical professionals treating sick people all day can face threats of tuberculosis, bloodborne diseases, or MRSA from wounds that get infected by bacteria around the healthcare facility. Health care employees also face a greater chance of contracting the Ebola virus, which is spread through direct contact with an ill person.
Mining
Next to health care, mining is an industry known to cause occupational diseases. Miners often develop silicosis from inhaling harmful silica dust all day long. Silica dust is also linked to emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD,) and lung cancer.
Many miners also develop black lung, a disease that permanently scars the lungs. Black lung can result in difficulty breathing or death.
Farming
Farmers, like miners, spend long days inhaling potentially harmful chemicals, fibers, and other airborne toxins because of their job. Farmers can contract farmer’s lung, an occupational disease that is caused by breathing in mold spores or bacteria from certain crops such as hay. Symptoms of farmer’s lung include fatigue, perpetual cough, and difficulty breathing. If left untreated, this disease can kill you.
Construction
Construction workers do face a higher threat of bodily injury at their jobs, but they also face occupational diseases as well. Many materials they work with give off harmful chemicals or gases that construction workers inhale all day. Dust from drywall, concrete, and other supplies can contain silica dust. Even worse, many materials still contain asbestos, a known cancerous substance. While construction products no longer contain asbestos, many older buildings still house ceilings, flooring, and other materials that contain this harmful mineral. If asbestos is not carefully removed by a professional, construction employees can be exposed to it and may develop lung disease or mesothelioma.
Welding
Welders fuse metals together using a torch to melt and manipulate metals. When metal is heated, it gives off fumes that can be toxic. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC,) these fumes contain a small amount of manganese. Manganese can cause a disease that mimics Parkinson’s, resulting in tremors, problems swallowing, fatigue, and headaches. Exposure to these powerful chemicals can also lead to COPD or cancer.
Talk to an Ohio Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Contracting an occupational disease can be very serious. You could suffer from painful or incapacitating symptoms for the rest of your life. If that’s the case, you need to ensure that you have enough of a financial cushion to take care of you and your family.
Let the experienced workers’ compensation lawyers at Kademenos, Wisehart, Hines, Dolyk & Wright Co. LPA help you. We will review your case and fight for you to receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us at (419) 625-7770 to schedule a free consultation today.