Hazardous Materials Exposure

Exposure to hazardous materials at work can lead to a work-related injury. Work-related accidents rank amongst the highest occurrences in personal injury cases. Each year, 4.7 million American workers are injured on the job.

A leading cause of work injuries is exposure to dangerous and hazardous materials. This includes chemical compounds and dangerous products.

Many facilities operate with hazardous materials and dangerous chemicals. When employers do not educate and protect their employees, injuries happen.

Related Article: The True Story of the Radium Girls

Common Types of Exposure

There are several common kinds of exposure that cause injury to employees. They are as follows:

Asbestos

Asbestos has been around for over 4,000 years. Exposure to asbestos from prolonged inhalation causes serious injuries. These injuries include:

• lung cancer
• asbestosis
• mesothelioma

Asbestos kills up to 15,000 people each year. Thousands of lawsuits involve employers for failing to protect their employees.

Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent chromium happens in various industrial settings. Exposure happens when an employee inhales mists, dust, or fumes over time. It can also occur these materials come into contact with eyes or skin.

Hexavalent chromium injuries are serious. But these injuries don’t manifest for years in some cases. Injuries include kidney and liver damage, eye irritation, vision damage, nasal and sinus cancers, and more.

Silicosis

Silicosis happens when an employee inhales crystalline silica dust. Crystalline silica dust is in brick, dust, mortar, faux granite, and more.

Silicosis inflames and scars the upper part of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. It can be accompanied by fever and cough and can lead to death.

Pesticides and Herbicides

One of the most common injuries comes from exposure to pesticides and herbicides. Chemicals used to kill weeds and infestation are correlated to injuries, and deaths.

Serious side effects such as cancers and neurodevelopment can happen. There are many lawsuits against Roundup, a top tier herbicide product. Evidence shows the weed killer causes cancer in commercial and residential users.

Employer Responsibility

Your employer owes you a safe workplace. After a workplace injury, workers’ compensation provides access to reasonable healthcare. But, in serious injury cases, your employer owes you more. It’s always best to discuss your situation privately with an attorney.

OSHA Guidelines

Employers must follow guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA guidelines direct each employer to provide the safest workplace possible for employees.

Material Safety Data Sheet

If your employer requires or asks you to work with chemicals, they must provide you with the SDS. The SDS is also known as a Safety Data Sheet. The SDS describes the dangers of a chemical and the recommended uses. It also describes the recommended personal protective equipment.

Personal Protective Equipment

When employees work with hazardous chemicals and materials, the employer must supply protective gear. Personal protective equipment is intended to prevent health and safety problems.

Statute Of Limitations

The statute of limitations is a legal time limit for civil claims. In most cases, the time limit in Pennsylvania and New Jersey is two years. This means, the injured person has two years from the time they knew – or should have known – there was an injury.
The law provides protections for employees exposed to hazardous materials at work. Even if an employee develops symptoms several years after exposure, they should talk to a lawyer.

Do You Have A Claim?

If you or a loved one were exposed to hazardous materials and suffered an injury or illness, we want to talk to you. Kane & Silverman specializes in personal injury cases and workers’ compensation claims in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Free Legal Consultation

Call today to discuss your claim for free. We are available to assist you through the legal process. We hold negligent employers responsible for serious injuries. Get the compensation you need.
Kane & Silverman is a prominent injury law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. You don’t pay us anything unless we recover money for you.