In certain industries, Florida workers’ are exposed to toxic and harmful chemicals on a regular basis. Exposure to these chemicals could result in serious, debilitating injuries or death. It’s the responsibility of the employer to make sure that his or her employees have a safe environment to work in.
Sometimes, however, those safety precautions are not enough to protect workers from toxic chemical exposure and getting harmed.
Types of Illnesses Caused by Toxic Exposure
When workers are exposed to hazardous substances, such as asbestos, pesticides and silica, they may develop several illnesses, some of which are extremely serious or terminal. Other toxic workplace chemicals include ammonia, arsenic, benzene, chloroform, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, lead, mercury, uranium, and zinc. Some illnesses caused by workplace toxic exposure include:
Asbestosis
Black lung disease
Lung cancer
Skin infections, injuries, and cancers
Mesothelioma
Radiation poisoning
Silicosis
An individual can suffer injury from a toxic substance in a variety of ways. Having your skin come into contact with the substance, breathing in the fumes, or even swallowing a minuscule amount of a toxic substance are just a few of the ways that an individual can become injured.
It’s up to the employer to ensure that all of its employees are properly equipped with safety gear for their work environment.
Liability Laws and Chemical Accident Prevention
Some chemicals are subject to strict liability laws, meaning the seller, distributor, or whoever provided the product is always liable for any personal injuries resulting from exposure to that toxic chemical, no matter the behavior of the afflicted individual at the time of the accident or how careless the worker was with said chemical. This option has limitations, so you may need to consult a workplace chemical injury lawyer first.
Employers of any business should always follow the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) standards and set forth rigid guidelines for handling and storing dangerous chemicals.
Next Steps
If you have been injured at work due to toxic chemical exposure, it’s in your best interest to reach out to our legal team at Probinsky & Cole. We are prepared to explain your rights and discuss your available legal options in a complimentary consultation.
An attorney can examine all aspects of your case, advise you of possible legal options, and help you to decide the next steps to take.
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