Helping Clients Afflicted With Environmental and Occupational Disease
STATE-CERTIFIED ATTORNEYS UNDERSTAND COMPLEX WORK-RELATED ILLNESSES
Workers may be doing their jobs amid dangers are unseen or unknown. Exposures to toxic elements in the air or the physical environment can lead to cancer, mesothelioma and other ailments and health conditions. Workers who suffer these ailments are entitled to the same benefits as any other injured workers. If you believe you have developed a work-related illness or disease, the workers’ compensation attorneys at Goldschmid, Silver & Spindel can help protect your rights. We advocate every day on behalf of injured employees in the Los Angeles area.
COMMON UNSAFE WORK ENVIRONMENTS
Hazardous materials are found in many workplaces, and it can be very easy to be exposed to them. Some of the more common environments for such materials are:
- Construction sites
- Laboratories
- Power plants
- Hazardous waste dumps
- Auto repair shops
- Buildings with asbestos insulation
- Buildings infected by mold
Even seemingly innocuous physical environments can pose dangers for workers whose immune systems make them susceptible. Cleaning products, paint and adhesives can give off fumes that result in illness. Our attorneys have considerable experience investigating workplace diseases and obtaining adequate compensation for our injured clients.
HOW HAZARDOUS OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE CAN OCCUR
Exposure can occur in a multitude of ways. Whenever there is a hazardous material present, there is a risk of contact through breathing or physical touching.
Employers often fall short of their legal responsibility for providing a safe working environment. Among their common failures are:
- Lack of proper equipment
- Malfunctioning or improperly maintained equipment
- Lack of safety procedures
- Insufficient training of employees
- Failure to follow safety procedures
Among the 10 most recently cited Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations in 2017 were those related to failure to provide respirators to protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors and sprays. OSHA estimates that 5 million workers are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces throughout the United States. OSHA believes compliance with its Respiratory Protection Standard could avert hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses annually.
TYPES OF DISEASES AND ILLNESSES
Occupational diseases and illnesses fall into these main categories:
- Diseases, including cancer, caused by chemical agents, such as asbestos and heavy metals like lead
- Diseases, including cancer, caused by physical agents, including radiation, intense light and loud noise
- Diseases caused by biological agents, such as viruses and infectious or parasitic diseases
- Diseases targeting specific organs, such as respiratory diseases, skin diseases, muscular and skeletal disorders and mental and behavioral disorders
No matter the cause or type of your illness, our veteran workers’ compensation attorneys stand ready to help obtain the full measure of compensation you deserve.
Contact our dedicated Los Angeles workers’ compensation law firm
With more than 150 years of combined experience, Goldschmid, Silver & Spindel helps with every type of workplace illness and disease. We accept cases on a contingent fee basis, so we get paid only if we get your benefits approved. To learn more about how our firm can help you, schedule a free consultation by calling 213-251-5900 or contacting our Los Angeles office online.
