Jun 6, 2017

The Most Common Occupational Illnesses

Many people believe workers’ compensation benefits are designed to
help those who have been injured as a result of a sudden accident, such
as being injured when slipping on a wet floor or having something fall
off a shelf and land on their head. However, not all workplace injuries
happen suddenly. In fact, many of them happen slowly and gradually over
time, and you may not even notice it until you’re consistently dealing
with the consequences. Occupational illnesses are extremely difficult
to overcome, and those who suffer from them may also be eligible for workers’
compensation.

Want to learn more about occupational illnesses? Let’s take a closer
look at some of the most common occupational illness conditions that are
sustained by workers everywhere.

Skin Disorders

Skin afflictions can arise from a variety of workplace hazards. Do you
work outside regularly? You could be at a much greater risk for one of
these hazards than those who aren’t. However, indoor workers who
are exposed to damaging substances could also be at risk.

Some common workplace-caused skin illnesses can include:

  • Eczema
  • Skin cancer
  • Skin infections
  • Rashes
  • Ulcers
  • Inflammation
  • Dermatitis

Respiratory Illnesses

Being able to breathe freely is vital to your quality of life, and inhaling
substances which can cause damage to lung tissue can leave a lasting and
possibly permanent impact on your health. In the short term, these substances
can aggravate allergies and cause discomfort, but in the long term, they
can lead to scar tissue, lung damage, cancer, and other serious consequences.
Those who frequently work around toxic chemicals, such as construction
workers or those who work in manufacturing are the most at risk.

Some common respiratory conditions from workplaces include:

  • Occupational asthma
  • Mesothelioma
  • Tuberculosis
  • Silicosis
  • Pharyngitis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Hearing Loss

Airport workers, construction workers, those who work around loud machinery,
or even those who work in entertainment and have to be around loud noises
constantly may suffer from hearing loss after continual exposure to high
amounts of noise. Have you ever been to a concert and left with muted
hearing and a ringing sensation in your ears? This is a sign of minor
temporary hearing loss, and continually being exposed to that level of
noise can lead to it possibly becoming permanent and your hearing never
fully recovering.

If you think you’re recovering from hearing loss, you should speak
with a doctor as soon as possible and get evaluated. Workers in loud places
are strongly advised to use protective equipment such as earbuds or earmuffs
to keep the sound out, but no equipment is perfect. Workers’ compensation
may be able to cover the costs of a hearing aid to help overcome this
condition.

Overexertion

The most common type of workers’ compensation injury is an overexertion
injury. These injuries are extremely varied, and can come in many different
forms based on when your body can’t take the stress it is under
any further and simply gives out. While many people think of these issues
as something throwing out your back or straining a muscle while lifting
something heavy (a sudden accident), overexertion can cause problems to
develop over time as well. It’s strongly advised you report these
incidents to an employer as soon as possible if you begin to suffer from
any of these conditions.

Some overexertion-related occupational illnesses include:

  • Hernias
  • Leg injuries
  • Ankle sprains
  • Joint damage
  • Arthritis

If you have suffered an occupational illness due to your working conditions,
it’s important to obtain legal representation as soon as possible.
Employers will frequently attempt to try to absolve their liability and
claim the working conditions did not cause the health problem you are
experiencing. An Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney from The
Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys can help you pursue the compensation
you are entitled to and get the assistance you need with treatment and recovery.

Call Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys today by dialing 770-922-3660
to request a case evaluation.