Were You Exposed or Poised by Hazardous Chemicals at Work in Pennsylvania?

Many workers are at risk for being exposed to dangerous chemicals while working in the United States. Workplaces that use dangerous chemicals are supposed to follow safety regulations and rules issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Unfortunately, OSHA’s guidelines for chemical exposure are lacking.

For those who work in occupations that require exposure to harmful chemicals, such as acids or other toxic materials, the dangers are very apparent. Workers need to know what chemicals they will be handling, and what the effects of the chemicals may be. It is crucial that employers pass along safe handling instructions, as without this information, the potential for workplace accidents may increase. While many of these accidents may allow employees to recover
workers’ compensation benefits, the injuries that may result could be life-changing.

In many industries, machines have been developed to handle most of the dangerous tasks that are associated with hazardous materials. This could lead to employees being less cautious, believing that they are not likely to be injured by the chemicals present. Workers still need to exercise care around these materials, as an accident could happen at any time.

Even Short Chemical Exposure at Work Can Have Devastating Effects

Chemical exposure in the workplace can lead to life-altering conditions – and might even prove fatal. If your workplace failed to provide the necessary safety equipment or training regarding hazardous materials, you could face a wide range of devastating injuries.

OSHA Rules for Reducing Chemical Exposure at Work

A majority of the hazardous chemical exposure limits issued by OSHA have not been updated since the 1970s. The outdated exposure limits may be putting many workers at risk for suffering workplace injuries caused by working with hazardous chemicals.

To address the risks workers face, OSHA has created two web resources to help protect workers from being exposed to hazardous chemicals. One web resource allows employers and workers to identify chemicals that pose fewer risks in the workplace. This tool will help workplaces make more informed decisions on what chemicals to use and will hopefully create a safer workplace.

The second tool will create a list of permissible exposure limits to keep workers free from unsafe exposure to hazardous chemicals. The list will use the recommendations made from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

OSHA said that the new web resources were made to address the fact that their PELs are not sufficient anymore. OSHA hopes that the new tools will help employers and workers be more aware of the dangers of chemical exposure, and understand what steps to take to reduce chemical hazards.

Workplaces should start using the online tools to prevent any injuries and illnesses caused by hazardous chemicals. Even OSHA admits that their policies are out of date and need to be updated. However, it can take a long time for OSHA to update their policies so they are taking a proactive approach to try and keep workers safe. Employers should take advantage of the new resources as exposure to hazardous chemicals can lead to very serious injuries for workers.

Industrial Chemical Accidents Are Often Not Accurately Reported

Industrial chemical accidents can be very dangerous for industrial workers in Pennsylvania and throughout the U.S. The government tracks industrial chemical accidents in an effort to make the industrial workplace safer. Unfortunately, a new report found that federal records on industrial chemical accidents are only 10 percent accurate.

The report said that the government is not accurately tracking chemical accidents in the country. The government was not able to collect information on all chemical industrial accidents due to so many different databases keeping track of chemical accidents but no database actually has information on all the accidents that happen every year.

Even though the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a database that collects information on workplace accidents and injuries, including illnesses and fatalities caused by chemical exposure. However, their database combines accidents and injuries caused by chemical exposure with injuries caused by falls, trips and other accidents in their database, making it difficult to determine how many chemical accidents are happening and what is causing them.

Industrial chemical accidents can cause fatal and severe long-term injuries. Workplace safety experts say that the federal government needs to keep better track of these accidents to help identify the risks workers face and how to prevent chemical accidents and chemical exposure illnesses. Some safety experts have said that different government agencies should combine or integrate their databases to make sure they are tracking all chemical accidents.

A Reuters examination has uncovered that a national program, which is intended to flag and inform the public of the presence of hazardous chemicals, is not working in many states. This is because the program has poor oversight and plant owners are subsequently becoming careless with reporting issues.

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act mandates that facilities issue a record, which lists potentially hazardous chemicals stored on properties. The mandated list is called a Tier II report, and the report is documented with local, state and county officials. The information should be publicly available.

Thousands of facilities in the country must report hazardous chemical inventories under the system. This is because approximately 500,000 chemicals are integrated into the reporting laws. However, facilities are misidentifying dangerous chemicals or the location of such substances. In some cases, companies are failing to report the chemicals on the whole.

For example, in 2006, Carhartt did not report that it was storing chlorine on the property. The result: two firefighters were exposed to the compound and one individual experienced chemical burns while attempting to close a leaking tap. Emergency teams believe it is crucial to record what substances are present on the site in an event of a disaster like this one. Any shortcomings in reporting can result in a serious accident.

However, that was not the only event that resulted from negligent reporting. In 2013, residences and companies were evaluated after an explosion at Nova-Kem. The accident injured an employee and emitted toxic chemicals into the open, including chlorine. In this case, too, the company did not report hazardous chemicals.

No State or Federal Oversight

Reuters notes that since 2005, mishaps at plants that carried some of the most unsafe Tier II substances have caused around 60 fatalities. Moreover, the calamities have equated to about 1,300 injuries and $1.6 billion in financial damages.

Errors in facilities’ inventories are resulting in injury and death. This is all baffling, as a safety specialist from the United Steel Workers labor union notes that the reporting process is not too burdensome. Nevertheless, some point to the problem of weak federal and state oversight. Moreover, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the regulator that enforces the Tier II system, has no true auditing method for Tier II reports. This is leading to limited national compliance.

In time, oversight and compliance will hopefully improve. Perhaps the EPA will revisit the reporting system and identify any issues that are leading to accidents. If you have been injured in a work-related accident, contact an experienced personal injury law or workers compensation attorney. A lawyer can help you address any legal rights or claims that derive from an accident.

Chemical Spills at Work

Chemical spills are very dangerous for everyone involved. However, those who work around hazardous chemicals every day face many risks that the general public probably isn’t aware of.

Did you know that Pennsylvania is fifth in the nation for hazardous chemical spills and incidents? Chemical spills can result in serious injuries and fatalities for workers transporting and working near these chemicals. Chemical spills are also dangerous for the entire community by harming the environment and exposing people to hazardous chemicals.

Federal records show that since 2000, 86 people have been injured in chemical spills in Pennsylvania and one person has died. While this may not seem like a high number, chemical spills can result in horrific injuries for workers so any number of workers being injured or killed due to chemical spills and exposure is too high.

Workers in Pennsylvania should be aware of the dangers of working with hazardous chemicals, even if they don’t work with chemicals on a daily basis. Being exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace can result in very serious occupational illnesses and injuries like chemical burns and toxic inhalation that can be fatal in some cases.

Companies that transport and work with hazardous chemicals should be aware of the dangers and make sure everyone understand the dangers of working with these chemicals and provide proper training and protective equipment to prevent accidents and injuries. Workers should also take steps to reduce their risk of chemical exposure and be sure to report any potential safety issues to their employer to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace.

Toxic Exposure May Cause Asthma in Workers

Many workers may still be affected by toxic exposure despite safety precautions and recommendations of using protective equipment, according to a study by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. Exposure to toxins and chemicals at work is causing more workers to develop asthma and other health complications.

Asthma is one of the most common diseases for adults in the world. Chemical exposure has a significant impact on causing asthma in adults. To track the impact toxic exposure has on workers, researchers studied workers who were exposed to toxins and chemicals during 1980 to 2000.

The study found that many cases of asthma in adults have been caused by toxic or chemical exposure while working. This was a surprising finding because there are safety regulations to help prevent toxic exposure for workers, which include wearing protective equipment and proper education for those who work with toxic chemicals.

Researchers reported that there were 1.3 asthma cases for every 1,000 male workers and 2.4 cases for every 1,000 female workers. The study found that wokers who are exposed to epoxy and dissocyanates, which are found in glue, varnish and foam plastic, are more likely to develop asthma due to their exposure to these chemicals.

The study identified which industries and occupations workers have the highest risk of being exposed to chemicals and toxins that can cause asthma in adults. The occupations that have the highest risk of being exposed to toxins or chemicals include:

• spray painters
• plumbers
• cleaners
• health care and social service industry workers who use latex gloves and detergents
• food and tobacco industry workers
• hair stylists

Asbestos Exposure and Related Illnesses

Most workers have likely heard of asbestos but may not necessarily know really what it is. Commonly utilized in several construction, automotive or industrial applications over a long period of time, asbestos has been the cause of many work-related illnesses. Employees who have suffered from diseases related to asbestos do not have minor issues but often very major health concerns to contend with.

WebMD.com explains that asbestos is not really just one thing but rather a grouping of different microscopic fibers known and originally prized for their strength and resistance to chemical breakdowns and heat. These qualities made them ideal for use in a myriad of industries. However, over time, it became known that these same characteristics in some form made asbestos harmful to humans.

According to mesothelioma.com, not only are asbestos fibers easy to ingest due to their tiny size but they do not pass through a person’s system. Instead, they attach commonly in the respiratory tract and lungs. Over time, the presence of these asbestos fibers can lead to serious and even life-threatening diseases. Mesothelioma is itself a form of lung cancer and is perhaps one of the diseases most commonly associated with asbestos.

When identifying if the development of a condition was due to asbestos exposure, several factors are considered. These include any pre-existing health conditions or risks that a person may have had such as being a long-term smoker. The type of asbestos fibers to which a person was exposed and the duration over which exposure occurred may also significant contributors to a final diagnoses.

Methyl Bromide

One such dangerous chemical is methyl bromide. Methyl bromide is a broad spectrum pesticide historically used in fumigation in the United States. It was largely used to control the spread of pest insects and rodents. In the early 2000s, the chemical was phased out of use reaching a 100% phase out in 2005. Although completely phased out, exemptions allow the chemical to be used at certain sites including New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania ports.

A Local Tale Of The Dangers Of Methyl Bromide

A local man was exposed to methyl bromide for 45 minutes a decade ago. As shown in this video from CBS Philly, he is still experiencing mental and physical deterioration as well as chronic pain. Soon after the exposure, he began feeling a burning sensation in his chest that soon spread to his extremities. Now, 10 years later, he must walk with a cane, feels chronic pain in his back and is suffering deterioration in his cognitive processing.

Soon after the exposure, the man filed a workers’ compensation claim. He stated that the chemical had leaked from the protected environment and he unknowingly breathed the fumigant for nearly an hour. While protective gear was provided by the company, he maintains that the workers were pressured to go without during the fumigation procedure.

Trichloroethene (TCE) and Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease may be more common among industrial workers in Pennsylvania and the U.S., according to a recent study. Researchers reported that workers exposed to industrial solvents have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease can cause limb tremors, muscle stiffness, slower movements and speech impairment.

One study found that there was roughly 10 to 40 years between TCE exposure and individuals being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Researchers stated that this may mean that exposure to TCE may trigger the degenerative disease but it may take a significant amount of time before any symptoms of the disease are seen.

In this study, researchers studied sets of twins where only one twin had Parkinson’s disease. The twins were questioned about their work history and hobbies. The study found that individuals who were exposed to trichloroethene (TCE) and other solvents had a six-fold increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

TCE is a very dangerous chemical. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently declared TCE as carcinogenic to humans. TCE was a common solvent used in dry-cleaning solutions, adhesives, paints and carpet cleaners. TCE is still regularly used as a degreasing agent and can contaminate drinking water.

The study also looked at other solvents, mainly perchloroethylene, which was commonly used in dry cleaning and degreasing agents, and carbon tetrachloride, which was commonly used to manufacture chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. Exposure to these solvents also significantly increased the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

This was the first study which showed a direct link between these types of solvents and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. While many of these solvents are no longer used in the workplace, it is important for workers to be aware of the dangers of working with these types of chemicals that may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease as well as cause cancer.

Silica Exposure at Work

Silica exposure is very hazardous yet it is still very common for construction workers in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States to be exposed to silica at work. To address the hazards of being exposed to silica, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed new rules to limit silica exposure in the workplace.

Silica is a toxic mineral that can cause lung cancer, silicosis and other health ailments. Workers most commonly exposed to silica are those working in the fracturing industry and construction industry. Workers involved in sandblasting, concrete-cutting and hydraulic fracturing have the highest risk of being exposed to dangerous levels of silica.

OSHA reported that over two million U.S. workers are exposed to silica while working every year, and proposed the new rule to limit the amount of exposure workers face in an effort to reduce workplace illnesses.

The proposed rule would limit silica exposure to 50 micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air. The current limit is not specified by OSHA but it is higher than the proposed 50 micrograms. OSHA said that the proposed rule could prevent 1,600 cases of silicosis and prevent 700 workplace fatalities each year.

Despite support by medical professionals and workplace safety advocates, some industry groups are opposed to the new rule and say that current limits offer enough protection to workers. However, if the current limit is sufficient, why are there so many cases of silicosis and lung cancer among fracturing and construction workers every year?

Construction and fracturing workers should be aware of the risks they face and encourage their employer to take steps to prevent silica and other toxic exposure in the workplace. Unfortunately, workers are not able to always reduce their exposure so it is up to OSHA and other agencies to make sure all workers are protected and free from toxic exposure.

Elevated Breast Cancer Risk Related to Certain Workplace Exposures

Women who work in the manufacturing or service industry, specifically in bars and casinos, have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to a recent study. Some women may even be twice as likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer due to being exposed to cancer-causing chemicals at work.

There are several workplace areas where women were found to be more at risk for developing breast cancer. Women who work in bars, casinos and race tracks are often exposed to second-hand smoke and work more at night, which has previously been associated with hormonal disruption. The study found that women who work in these service areas are twice as likely to develop breast cancer.

Second-hand smoke emits dangerous toxins, which is why women who work around second-hand smoke have an increased risk of getting cancer. This is not the only toxic chemical that female workers are exposed to, however. Women working in the farming and manufacturing industry are exposed to many pesticides, which can increase a person’s risk of cancer.

The study found that women who worked in these industries for at least 10 years were being exposed to “toxic chemicals” that increased their risk of developing breast cancer by 42 percent.

According to the study, industries with the highest risk of developing breast cancer include agriculture, bar/gambling, automotive plastics manufacturing, food canning and metal-working. There were significant differences in which industries women are more likely to develop breast cancer. Women working in the metal-working industry have a 73 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer, while women working in the farming industry have a 36 percent increased risk.

Should a Company Test Workers for Chemical-Related Work Illness?

How far should a company go to prevent and detect these hidden work-related dangers? That’s a question raised by a lawsuit filed recently in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.

What To Do if You Were Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals at Work in Pennsylvania

Workplace injuries and illnesses do not always develop from a single event. Some of the most serious injuries and illnesses develop slowly and may not be noticed initially.

There are steps that workers can take to help stay safe on the job. Employers will have to provide information to employees about some of the effects of the chemicals, but they may not completely know how to safely handle these materials. If possible, test some of the protective materials provided by the employer to determine if they actually do prevent injury from occurring.

Also, workers will want to be sure that these protective materials are still performing as designed. Some defects, like holes, rips or tears, will be very easy to spot. Obviously, those materials will need to be replaced as soon as practical. Any work performed while wearing defective gear is needlessly subjecting an employee to potential injury.

However, some defects may not be that easy to spot. For example, certain protective gear could be very porous, meaning that liquids can travel through them easily, even when in pristine condition. Each chemical and each piece of gear will operate differently, and it is important to be sure that what is being used can prevent the chemicals from causing an injury.

Workers will also want to learn about any long-term health implications that may arise from handling certain chemicals. Silica, familiar to many Pennsylvania workers due to its use in the fracking industry, is linked to silicosis, which can cause lung problems for workers with prolonged exposure to the material.

If you have been injured on the job, speak to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. There are very specific rules in place in order to receive benefits. It is important to follow the proper procedures to ensure that you are able to completely recover from your injuries.

Seek Medical Attention ASAP

Even though the symptoms of exposure can come on slowly – as in the above example – it is crucial that you seek medical attention and legal guidance as soon as possible. Nearly every worker in the nation runs the risk of some sort of toxic exposure. The type of occupation, certainly, can increase or decrease the worker’s chance of harmful exposure. If safety measures are not in place, even a momentary exposure can lead to a lifetime of pain.

Our Attorneys Can Help if You Were Exposed to a Hazardous Material or Chemical at Work in Pennsylvania

Workers have the right to know what toxins they are being exposed to and ways to protect themselves. Employers are supposed to keep their workers safe and not expose them to hazardous chemicals or environments. Workers who have suffered an injury or illness due to toxic exposure may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits under Pennsylvania law.

Our law firm represents workers who have suffered an illness or injury due to toxic exposure. To learn more about our law firm, please call today for a free evaluation of your potential case.