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Workplace illnesses you could face working in construction

On Behalf of | Oct 13, 2016 | Firm News, Workplace Illnesses

Suffering an injury on the job is a painful reminder of the reason safety protocols are in place. However, they weren’t always, and not every workplace is as safe as it should be. Here’s a few examples of the ways that you could be hurt on the job if your employer doesn’t take the safety procedures necessary seriously. First, if you’re an insulator, you could have been exposed to asbestos, solvents or epoxies that could lead to illness. Insulation created before 1975 contains asbestos that can lead to asbestosis. Working with glue solvents can lead to acute solvent syndrome or peripheral neuropathy.

If you are a roofer, you could face a number of other illnesses as well. If you remove roofing shingles, you could face lead poisoning. Or, if you applied asphalt to cables, pipes or roofing, you could face photoirritant dermatitis. Asbestos was also a problem for roofers in the past, so asbestosis is a possibility.

For carpenters, you may think that the most common injury would be hammering nails into fingers or hands, but there are many items that could cause permanent illness or injury later in life or at the time of exposure. Old paint removal could lead to lead poisoning, and any insulation used before 1975 could lead to asbestosis. Exposure to paint that has an oil base can lead to acute solvent syndrome, and working with machine or sand creosote treated wood could lead to photoirritant dermatitis.

In each of these cases, the illness may not show up immediately. Workers who suffer from asbestosis, acute solvent syndrome, blood poisoning or other illnesses should look into seeking compensation.

Source: Haz-Map, “Diseases and Jobs,” accessed Oct. 13, 2016

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