Injuries from Chemical Hazards in the Workplace

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Wilmington, Newark and Seaford protect your rights to fair compensation for your workplace injury from exposure to chemical hazards on the job. If you have been hurt, we can help.

Whether you work on a construction site, at a dry cleaner, a hardware store or a research laboratory, an accident and injury from chemical exposure can happen in many different workplace settings. Employers whose workers must be exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals must follow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, guidelines to make sure that their employees are safe from exposure to these dangerous chemicals. OSHA regulates worker exposure to chemicals through education and training, and through their Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), which is designed to ensure that workers are informed about chemical and toxic substance exposure and required protective measures.

Employers who have hazardous chemicals in the workplace must train their employees to safely handle these chemicals appropriately. Despite all of the training and education about the proper handling of hazardous materials, accidental toxic spills can put large numbers of employees in danger from exposure to harmful toxins.

If you are injured on the job from exposure to hazardous chemicals, it is vital that you report the incident to your boss immediately. Workers’ compensation benefits are available for those who have been injured on the job. It provides partial wage replacement for the days an injured worker is away from work recovering from their injury, and medical coverage.

Symptoms of hazardous chemical exposure

Some of the symptoms of exposure to toxins can include:

• Chemical burns
• Itchy burning eyes
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Fever or chills
• Rapid heart rate

Causes of chemical exposure

Whether the chemicals were improperly stored causing a chemical leak, toxic substances becoming airborne such as asbestos from construction materials or the mishandling of chemicals due to inadequate training or negligence, hazardous chemical exposure can occur in many different types of workplaces.

Diseases and environmental illnesses that can be caused by exposure to toxic substances in the workplace

After a person has been exposed to chemical hazards in the workplace, they could contract illnesses and diseases such as:

• Asbestosis
• Lung cancer
• Brain damage
• Chemical burns
• Heavy metals poisoning
• Nerve damage
• Death

If your injury or illness was caused by a negligent third party such as a subcontractor, the property owner of a client worksite, the manufacturer of defective equipment or packaging, a third party personal injury lawsuit can provide additional compensation. A personal injury lawsuit can also include damages such as pain and suffering, future medical care, and loss of consortium, which are not available from workers’ compensation benefits.

Silverman, McDonald & Friedman is here to help when you have been injured due to chemical exposure at work. You are welcome to fill out our contact form to make an appointment for a free consultation at our offices in Wilmington, Newark or Seaford.