Some work-related injuries occur immediately while others, like occupational disease, may take years to appear. Occupational disease is covered under the South Carolina workers compensation system.
What is an occupational disease?
Under South Carolina workers compensation law, an occupational disease is defined as a disease that arises out of and in the course of employment that is caused either by hazards that are used in excess or ones that are peculiar to the job that the employee worked. What could be classified as an occupational disease under South Carolina law:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Mesothelioma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Hearing loss
- Cancer
What are some of the common causes of occupational disease?
Occupational disease can be caused by a variety of factors that you may be exposed to in your workplace, like:
- Severe mental/emotional traumatic experience
- Exposure to gas, chemicals, high voltage electric current, bacteria, fungi, viruses, or radiation
- Vibration that is constant
- Extremely high or low temperatures
- Pressure to the body
- Repetitive motion (including desk work or heavy lifting)
Is an occupational disease more likely to occur when you work in certain industries?
There are quite a few industries that put employees at risk of occupational disease, such as:
- Auto repair
- Manufacturing
- Health care
- Catering
- Hair care
- Printing
- Construction
- Logging
Proving an occupational disease
If you want to file for workers compensation for your occupational disease, there are a couple of things that you need to prove in order to receive benefits. First, you must prove that the occupational disease was indeed caused by hazards that existed in your workplace. Second, you need to show that the symptoms and occupational disease itself are consistent with those that are known to result from a physical, chemical, or biological hazard that was related to your workplace environment.
If you have questions about filing for workers compensation benefits or you need help collecting evidence to use in your claim, contact The Clardy Law Firm. Our experienced Greenville, SC workers compensation attorneys can help ensure you get the compensation you deserve to recover from your occupational disease.
