Occupational and work-related diseases vary, but anyone who works in a field for long enough may be exposed to these conditions. Work-related diseases can have many causes, from being exposed to hazards to working too many hours in a week. The work environment and a person’s own risk factors play an important role in the development of work-related diseases.
Some common work-related diseases that people may have heard about in the past include asbestos-related mesothelioma, fatigue and exhaustion from being overworked, and repetitive strain injuries, which are caused by performing the same actions over and over again for many hours and days per week.
Work-related illnesses and injuries don’t always appear right away. While injuries will usually come to a head during employment, illnesses aren’t as easy to recognize. Some won’t emerge until many years after a person leaves a job, making it his or her responsibility to file a claim for the suffering the person is now going through.
A good example of this would be asbestos exposure. You may not suffer any illnesses for many years; suddenly, you could find you have developed mesothelioma. That disease specifically is linked to exposure to asbestos, so if you are able to show that you were exposed at work, then you could be able to make a claim and be compensated for having this illness.
Occupational diseases can affect you, your family, and your future. Our website has more information on the illnesses that may be related to work and what you can do if you want to file a claim against an employer, whether you work at the company today or not.
