Workers’ Compensation and Hazardous Materials

Certain jobs and industries are simply more dangerous than others. At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we help workers in Wilmington, Seaford and Newark get the workers’ compensation benefits they need after they have suffered an injury on the job. Some of the employees most at risk of those types of injuries are those who work with hazardous materials, or HAZMAT. If you are a HAZMAT worker and have sustained an injury, you can trust us to help you protect your future.

Hazardous chemicals and substances

Some hazardous materials are more commonly found than others. They include:

• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Bleach
• Blood and other bodily fluids
• Carcinogens that lead to cancer
• Heavy metals, including lead
• Mold
• Nuclear waste
• Pesticides

These are just a sample of some of the toxic chemicals Delaware workers may come into contact with, but there are hundreds more.

HAZMAT workers are at risk of serious injuries and illnesses

When the word “hazardous” is in your job title, there can really be no argument that what you do is dangerous. HAZMAT workers are tasked with using, storing, transporting and destroying dangerous chemicals and products all day long. They could become ill or sustain an injury:

• During transport. Aside from the regular risks an employee faces while transporting good from one place to another, a HAZMAT must also avoid any kind of issue that could lead to a toxic chemical spill. Getting into an accident on a highway is bad; getting hit while carrying contains of nuclear waste is far worse.
• Through inhalation. Constant exposure to hazardous materials means an increase chance of inhaling dangerous chemicals. Over time, these chemicals can cause lung problems and cancers, such as mesothelioma, severe and chronic asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• By direct contact. Direct skin-to-skin contact – say, because of an accident in a plant or refinery, or because of defective safety equipment – can lead to permanent illness or disfigurement. Workers are at risk of chemical burns, vision loss and scarring from a one-time exposure. The risks increase if the employee is exposure repeatedly.

If you are a HAZMAT worker in Delaware, and you have sustained an injury or developed an illness in direct relation to your work, Silverman, McDonald & Friedman wants to help. We invite you to contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our workers’ compensation lawyers in Newark, Wilmington or Seaford.