Not having to pay medical expenses for a workplace injury is the peace of mind that workers’ compensation can provide. But what about when an employee gets sick while on the job?
Fortunately, workers’ comp also covers illnesses that result from occupational exposures. Also, benefits from an illness-related claim do not have to apply to just one event. They can cover the long-term effects of work-related sicknesses, even months or years later.
When the Illness does not Present Immediately
An occupational illness arises out of and in the course and scope of employment; it is the workplace itself that poses one or more risks. For example, a factory employee might
- handle toxic chemicals,
- breathe in air impurities or
- come in contact with other harmful materials.
Such exposures might affect a worker’s heart, lungs, digestive system, skin, eyes and other organs or body parts.
Buy many job-related illnesses do not emerge immediately after initial exposure. The delay in the development of symptoms can pose a challenge to workers who must prove that the exposure at work caused their current sickness.
To account for delayed symptoms or after-effects, workers’ compensation protects an employee during their employment and into the future for any injuries or illnesses that appear later on.
Employees have made strides in winning benefits after exposure to toxic molds and asbestos, which might not result in negative effects for decades. Additionally, coal miners have successfully shown that black lung disease can develop over the course of a person’s employment. Whether the damage to health has been immediate or gradual, injured workers are entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages.
Act as Soon as You Become Aware of the Problem
Even if it takes years for a work-related illness to become apparent, workers must act swiftly to file a claim as soon as they become aware of the problem. They should also continue documenting their symptoms and keeping detailed records. If employees delay, they risk their claim being denied due to filing deadlines and time constraints.
If you have an illness that you believe is related to unsafe workplace conditions or exposures, contact a workers’ comp attorney for help with filing a claim.
If you previously have been denied workers’ comp benefits, a skilled Ohio attorney with Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen LPA, Co., may help you get what you deserve.