Sometimes workers get lung problems from high amounts of dust or from environmental hazards on the job. These diseases are called “Occupational Lung Diseases.”
Workers who get lung problems from their work often work in farming, grain processing, mining, construction, road repair, and chemical processing and shipping. For example, if you work in a quarry you are inhaling small amounts of limestone dust each and every day. At some point, you may have lung problems that won’t go away because the dust doesn’t come out over time. You could also get your lungs injured by handling large amounts of dry chemicals or by breathing in large amounts of chemical vapors from chemicals. Workers have been known to get lung problems from breathing in too many fumes from gasoline and from breathing in things like chlorine bleach over many years.
In farming, the dust, mold, and grain particle buildup often leads to a condition called “farmer’s lung.” “Farmer’s lung” leads to coughing, dust in the phlegm, and asthma-like symptoms. A close relative to “farmer’s lung” is another condition called “silo-filler’s lung.” “Silo-filler’s lung” is caused by inhaling a gas called Nitrogen Dioxide that comes from fresh grasses and animal fodder stored in airless conditions. These grasses and fodder are usually compacted and are called silage. Silage is what animals are fed in the winter.
If you got a lung injury on the job, the medical costs and other expenses you have may be covered by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Under the Workers’ Compensation Act, a worker can get money to pay for medical bills and time off work. A worker can also get money for permanent damage from an injury. If you do not tell your employer about your lung injury when it happens, or when you start experiencing bad symptoms, it can be hard or even impossible to get money for your injuries. In workers’ compensation, the deadlines can be very fast. It is best not to wait more than a month after you get an injury or experience symptoms to contact an attorney.
Should I wait to see if my symptoms go away?
If you were injured on the job, you should talk to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney. Call the Law Office of Franklin J. Furlett at 847-352-6226 or use our contact form for a call back during normal business hours, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.
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