Employers are required to provide the safest working environment possible, but workers in a variety of industries are still prone to illnesses due to the specific nature of their jobs. Many of these occupational illnesses require long-term care and make it impossible to return to work until the condition has improved. Fortunately, workers’ comp provides crucial medical treatment and wage replacement benefits for employees suffering from an occupational illness.

What Is an Occupational Illness?

To be classified as an occupational illness in New York state, a medical condition must be directly related to the unique circumstances of a work injury. For instance, manufacturing workers who handle toxic materials may be exposed to higher risks of respiratory conditions and cancer, and office workers often develop carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of hours on a computer. Construction workers may experience back problems and hearing loss, and health care workers can contract diseases while treating a patient.

Before filing a workers’ comp claim, it’s important to distinguish between occupational illnesses and diseases related to your working environment. For example, a restaurant worker who develops an illness due to untreated black mold in the workplace can’t claim an occupational illness since mold exposure is not normally part of a server or chef’s duties. While that worker may still be eligible for workers’ compensation, their condition would not be classified as an occupational illness.
 

If you’ve been hurt at work or developed an illness that makes it impossible to perform your job duties, Vincent J. Criscuolo & Associates will help you get the workers’ comp benefits you deserve. This Rochester, NY, law firm has built a reputation for aggressive representation and delivering results, earning them the respect of clients and peers, along with a Nation’s Top One Percent designation from the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. Visit their website to learn more about their workers’ comp representation, and call (585) 232-3240 to schedule an initial consultation.