Compensation For Occupational Diseases

Occupational diseases are ailments or illnesses caused by risk factors in the workplace. Risk factors vary between workplaces and between occupations. A broad spectrum of diseases can fall under the term’s umbrella, allowing employers plenty of room for interpretation regarding the work environment’s role in contracting the illness. If you believe that your illness was caused by occupational conditions or activities, contact Savino & Smollar, P.C., to discuss your situation in a free consultation.

Our attorneys understand that occupational diseases rarely appear overnight, and because they are not tied to physical injury, it may prove difficult to point to a specific event or work exposure that caused the disease. Employers can rely on the gradual nature of diseases to cast doubt on whether diseases resulted from risk factors in the workplace or external factors beyond their control. We know how to uncover evidence and create strong arguments tying your illness to work-related factors.

Common Occupational Diseases In New York

Occupational diseases commonly manifest as respiratory diseases. Many occupations involve working with harsh chemicals or inhalable particles. For instance, construction workers may be exposed to wood or drywall dust on the job, a baker may inhale flour or sugar over the course of the day and a landscaper may spend most of their day in clouds of gasoline. These workers, and many like them, may be at increased risk for asthma or other respiratory illnesses because of their repeated exposure to these risk factors.

Jobs that involve physical labor, like construction or demolition, involve the risk of causing musculoskeletal disorders. Long periods of pressure on a worker’s knees or elbows may cause bursitis.

Repeated exposure to chemical irritants, like those commonly found in cleaning products, can cause long-term harm to a worker’s skin, resulting in contact dermatoses.

Awareness of occupational cancer has risen in recent years, and the list of workplace carcinogens curated by the International Labour Organization continues to grow. Currently, known workplace carcinogens include such materials as:

• Asbestos
• Tar, pitch and anthracene
• Wood dust
• Nickel compounds, commonly used in batteries and microelectronics
• Benzene, commonly used in petrochemical applications like rubbers, gasoline and lubricants

Working in the medical field or an adjacent field also poses a serious risk for injury and disease.

Risk factors in the workplace may not be easy to identify immediately. Working with an attorney to discuss the symptoms of your disease and your working conditions can help build a stronger case for an occupational disease claim.

Call Us For Help Today

If your job has exposed you to risks that resulted in an occupational disease, you need the help of a knowledgeable attorney. Savino & Smollar, P.C., is one of New York’s premier Workers’ Compensation firms. We can work with you to find solutions for your workplace illness. Call us any time, day or night, at 212-732-8333 or email us.