Heavy metal exposure.

This can include exposure to lead, brass, zinc, chrome, manganese, mercury, nickel, or phosphorous.

Eye injuries.

These can include cataracts in glassworkers or corneal injuries from tar, pitch, paraffin, bitumen, or mineral oil.

Inflammation and inhalation injuries.

These can include infections or swelling in the lungs or mucus membranes caused by oils, dust, fumes, gases, vapors, liquids, or mineral and metallic particles.

Petroleum injuries.

These can include respiratory, gastrointestinal, nerve disorder, and eye injuries.

Skin injuries.

These can include disabling blisters, abrasions, or dermatitis.

Hernias.

It must be shown that the hernia was clearly recent and suffered in the course of employment.

Radiation effects.

This includes radium poisoning or exposure to ionizing radiation.

Mental and emotional effects of an injury.

To receive workers’ comp for this, you must prove that a physical injury exists.

Aggravation of a previous injury.

You must prove that the workplace conditions contributed to another disease that was reported to the employer before the aggravation occurred.

In addition to the difficulty of proving that a condition is work related, employees suffering from an occupational disease must file their claims within two years from the date of disability; otherwise, they lose their right to benefits. In many cases, employees are unaware that their diagnosis is connected to their workplace, leaving them to pay for their own medical costs simply because they don’t know their rights.

 

Robyn K. Factor
Helping Rhode Island personal injury and work injury clients get the results they deserve since 1994.