What is an occupational disease?

Many Lincoln-area residents work in an industrial setting. These are often good jobs that pay well, but they can also cause unexpected injuries and diseases in their workers. So, what is an occupational disease?

An occupational disease is a disease contracted primarily because of a person's work environment. There can be many causes of these diseases, and some of them are serious medical conditions. One major type of occupational diseases is lung disease, such as those caused by asbestos exposure and occupational asthma. Occupational skin diseases can occur from exposure to chemicals and having wet hands for an extended amount of time. Eczema, skin cancer, and dermatitis can also emerge in a worker due to his or her work environment. There are many other industrial work-related diseases that a Lincoln worker can develop.

When a person's place of employment does not take care in protecting its workers from injury, it can lead to serious injuries and even death. Occupational disease is a scary situation for workers with unexpected consequences. A legal professional who is skilled in worker injuries can help a family seek compensation for their injury. They can guide an injured individual through the workers' compensation system and make sure the injured worker gets the help they need. If the injury is found to be a result of third-party negligence, then a legal professional can also help try to hold that third-party responsible for any additional compensatory losses.

No one expects they will be the victim of a work-related disease, but it can happen to anyone, including truck drivers, hair dressers, agricultural workers, and many others. Workers' compensation, when successfully sought, can help cover one's medical bills and lost wages. Therefore, ensuring that one has sound legal representation in these matters is often critically important.

Source: World Health Organization, "Occupational and work-related diseases", accessed on Dec. 26, 2017