Workers in Ohio and elsewhere can encounter a wide range of risks in the workplace. For some, the greatest risk may be what a worker is breathing in. It may not be immediately apparent that an individual is breathing in something harmful. However, over time, a worker could develop a serious workplace illness. Being exposed to asbestos over time, for example, could result in serious harm to a worker, even causing them to no longer be able to work while undergoing medical treatment.
Currently, scientists have linked more than a dozen types of medical conditions to asbestos exposure. There are some, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, that have a confirmed and direct connection with asbestos exposure. Other conditions, such as COPD and kidney cancer, are not caused directly by asbestos. Nonetheless, scientists believe that asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing these and other conditions.
Based on current studies, asbestos is considered to be the largest cause of occupational cancer in the U.S. It can be the direct cause for four distinct types of cancers and can increase a person’s risk of several other types. When a worker develops one of these types of cancers, it may be necessary to seek workers’ compensation, as these benefits could help address the losses associated with the illness.
A workplace illness can be shocking because workers do not expect to suffer such a condition. It is also overwhelming because of the physical and financial harm it causes. In order to help offset these losses, it may be possible to recover workers’ compensation.