Whether you work in an office, factory, or on a construction site, you may be at risk of developing an occupational disease. Unlike workplace injuries that are usually apparent right away, the signs of occupational diseases can take years to manifest. Our occupational disease lawyers at Nappa, Monterosso & Poznansky, LLP, help workers in the greater New York City area. We believe that the more you know about potential hazards at work, the easier it is to mitigate them. Here, we discuss some common risks associated with occupational diseases and how to avoid dangers that may impact your health.
What Is Occupational Disease?
Occupational diseases are illnesses or health conditions that occur due to exposure to hazards in the workplace. Occupational diseases typically develop when workers are exposed to certain substances, environments, or job duties that can cause illness or injury over time.
Hidden Dangers in the Workplace
Workplace hazards like a spill on the floor can be obvious, but some causes of occupational diseases are less evident. Understanding the unseen causes of occupational diseases can help employers and employees mitigate risks and create safer work environments. Depending on the type of work you do, you may be exposed to dangers such as:
Occupational Hearing Loss
Exposure to noise affects workers in many different industries, including construction, manufacturing, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, aviation, mining, and dentistry. Occupational hearing loss usually occurs over time, and typically can’t be reversed. Although noises like a dentist’s drill may not affect your hearing right away, prolonged exposure can lead to hearing loss that you may not even notice until it’s too late.
Repetitive Motion
Jobs that involve repetitive tasks or motions can cause conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and bursitis. Frequent use of a keyboard, assembly line work, and operating machinery are just a few lines of work that can lead to the development of repetitive strain injuries. Using equipment that emits loud noises and strong vibrations, such as a jackhammer, can result in both occupational hearing loss and musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.
Stress in the Workplace
Issues like interpersonal conflicts, working long hours, and being exposed to traumatic situations can take a serious toll on workers’ mental health. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD often affect police, firefighters, EMTs, and healthcare workers. These mental health conditions may also contribute to physical ailments and weaken the immune system. If you’ve experienced traumatic events or a stressful work environment is taking a toll on you, talking to your employer and seeking help from a therapist can help you process your feelings and preserve your mental health.
Poor Ventilation
Poor ventilation in workplaces can result in harmful indoor air pollution. Formaldehyde and other substances that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be found in cleaning products, building materials, paint, and other common products. Employees may not even know they’re being exposed to this pollution and may suffer from headaches, dizziness, fatigue, respiratory issues, and other conditions. Proper ventilation can also help reduce carbon monoxide exposure and mitigate the effects of other dangerous substances.
Chemical Exposure
Sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and other industrial settings often involve working with toxic chemicals such as pesticides, solvents, and heavy metals. Without adequate safety protocols and protective measures in place, prolonged chemical exposure can result in occupational lung disease, skin conditions, cancers, and neurological disorders.
In some cases, manufacturers of dangerous chemicals may not include sufficient warnings or instructions for safe handling. This can make them liable for workplace injuries and occupational diseases that could have been prevented with proper safety protocols if workers had known about the potential dangers of using or being exposed to a product.
Airborne Matter
Dealing with dust and other particulate matter is common in the mining, manufacturing, and construction industries, but unfortunately, workers and their employers may brush off exposure to these substances as no big deal. Without proper protective equipment such as respirators, workers can inhale harmful airborne particles. Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers, silica dust, and other substances can lead to diseases such as mesothelioma, black lung, asbestosis, asthma, and other occupational lung diseases and respiratory conditions.
Preventing Occupational Diseases
Employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace for their employees. One common way to do this is to ensure they provide appropriate PPE, such as hearing protection, gloves, masks, respirators, body suits, and safety goggles, and train employees in their use. The regular monitoring of air quality and implementing dust controls and effective ventilation systems can also cut down on the incidence of occupational disease caused by unseen workplace hazards.
Training workers to properly handle, store, and dispose of toxic chemicals and other hazardous substances can help them avoid chemical burns, skin conditions, and occupational illnesses such as lung diseases and neurological conditions. People who perform jobs that involve repetitive motion should have effective ergonomic setups and learn techniques that help mitigate the potential for developing repetitive stress injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.
To prevent occupational hearing loss and tinnitus, employers can implement solutions such as soundproofing and noise-canceling technologies. Providing workers with hearing protection devices such as earplugs and earmuffs, conducting regular noise level assessments, and educating employees on the importance of using hearing protection and practicing hearing preservation techniques can also help prevent problems.
How an Occupational Disease Attorney Can Help
The workers’ compensation lawyers at Nappa, Monterosso & Poznansky, LLP, know that the onset of an occupational disease can be alarming and overwhelming. Our occupational disease attorneys know how to connect the dots to show that a condition or illness is work-related and fight to help you obtain the benefits you deserve. If you or a loved one is suffering from an occupational disease or workplace injury, we can evaluate your case and determine the best path toward a successful outcome for your claim.
Contact an Occupational Disease Lawyer in the Greater NYC Area
At Nappa, Monterosso & Poznansky, LLP, we care about you and your family. As native Staten Islanders, we’re passionate about helping injured workers throughout the greater New York City area. Call us at 718-273-9000 or contact us to schedule a free case evaluation with an occupational disease attorney in the greater NYC area. Attorney and Partner Rolando Cubela proudly serves our Spanish-speaking clients.
