While some lines of work are certainly more dangerous than others, one fact remains: occupational diseases and injuries can occur at any worksite. Whether you find yourself on the job at a construction site or performing administrative tasks at a white-collar workplace, all employees ought to do their best to protect themselves from the dangerous consequences of illness or harm contracted at their place of work.
If you find yourself diagnosed with any of the following occupational diseases, you should file a workers’ compensation claim and contact an attorney from firms like Schwartzapfel Lawyers immediately. With these legal experts in your corner, you can seek necessary medical/disability benefits and clear the hurdles put in place by stingy insurance companies.
If you’re interested in keeping your employees and colleagues safe from a silent on-site killer, read up on these eight common occupational diseases.
Repetitive stress injuries
Employees who must engage in repetitive physical movements, such as those who work on assembly lines or in manual labor settings, are most at risk of succumbing to a repetitive stress injury. Those who take frequent breaks, stretch, and vary their movements as much as possible have a greater chance of avoiding experiencing a repetitive stress injury.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Whether you’re hammering the day away with a construction tool or the clicking of a keyboard is the soundtrack to your workday, if you’re required to engage in any repetitive wrist or finger movements, you may be at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. A compressed nerve in the wrist causes the disease, so minimizing repetitive movements and ensuring that you’re set up with proper equipment is a must.
Hearing loss
A devastating but all too common occupational disease, hearing loss, affects construction workers and factory workers alike. Those who aren’t equipped with proper ear protection may experience loss in auditory function after being consistently exposed to loud noises for long periods.
Vision loss
Like hearing loss, vision loss is often caused by a lack of access to proper protective equipment for those exposed to bright screens, flying objects, or potentially hazardous chemicals. Such ocular injury causes blurred, disturbed, or even eliminated visual capabilities in those who suffer.
Dermatitis
When it comes to occupational skin diseases, dermatitis is, by far, the most commonly occurring. Irritant dermatitis, or contact dermatitis, is caused by exposure to dangerous chemicals and skin-irritating substances. Workplaces that skirt responsibilities to provide employees with protective equipment tend to experience higher dermatitis occurrences.
Cancer
Most commonly influenced by prolonged exposure to carcinogenic materials like asbestos, occupational cancer accounts for 24 percent of global work-related deaths. What’s more, cancer is considered among the most lethal of occupational diseases because of its high mortality rate.
Mental health disorders
While mental health disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder are often more difficult to perceive than a glaring physical injury, these diagnoses can be just as debilitating. Among the most common mental health disorders that present in occupational settings is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which often manifests in individuals with high-stress careers in law enforcement or the military.
Respiratory illness
The exposure to and inhalation of toxic fumes, carcinogenic substances, and other respiratory-illness-inducing substances typically cause respiratory illnesses such as lung cancer or asthma. Ensuring that workers have access to proper ventilation and mask equipment is critical to preventing occupational respiratory disease.
In conclusion
From mental health diagnoses to physical stress injuries, there’s no denying that no occupation is without its dangers. To maintain the workplace’s safety, employers and employees alike ought to get to work on preventing occupational disease.
