Industrial Diseases and Workers Compensation

When most people think about workers compensation, they probably imagine claimants getting hurt in falls, equipment falling on them or a truck driver involved in an accident. Workers compensation can cover those kinds of incidents, but it also covers work related diseases and health conditions that can be even more harmful, but take much longer to develop.

Some of them include:

• Hand/Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)
  HAVS is a painful and potentially disabling condition that affects the blood vessels and nerves in the fingers. Typical symptoms include attacks of severe tingling or numbness in the fingers which can cause significant limitations.
• Whole Body Vibration (WBV)
  WBV is a chronic condition caused by long term exposure to vibrations in environments such as construction or mining. The most severe injuries include fractures to vertebrae and rupture of intervertebral discs.
• Industrial Dermatitis
  Industrial Dermatitis is an inflammation or irritation of the skin caused by contact with a toxic agent or environmental factor like solvents, detergents and fuels.
• Noise Induced Hearing Loss
  Noise Induced Hearing Loss (or industrial deafness) is caused by continued exposure to high intensity noise or a one time acoustic trauma. The condition can be permanent and typically affects the higher frequencies of the hearing range.
• Occupational Respiratory Disease
  Occupational Respiratory Disease is a term for a range of conditions caused by work related exposure to harmful substances such as dust and gasses. These conditions include Industrial Asthma, Silicosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Emphysema. Operations such as grinding, drilling or polishing can increase the risk of developing one or more of these diseases.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a work related disease or health condition, contact our Asheville law office to arrange a free consultation. Our attorneys’ fees are contingent upon recovering damages for your injuries and disabilities. You will not owe a fee unless we recover compensation for you.