Many jobs can expose workers to contaminants and other hazards that can lead to serious, long-lasting conditions that can greatly impact workers’ lives. These illnesses are known as occupational diseases. Some of the most common occupational diseases include: lung diseases, skin infections from dangerous chemicals, poisoning from exposure to toxic substances, and even cancer. Many employers and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) may try to contest the fact that a

Asbestos is one of the most infamous workplace safety hazards in modern history. For decades, asbestos was used in many consumer products and as insulation for buildings. Workers can breathe in asbestos fibers, where they become trapped in lung tissue. Asbestos exposure can lead to conditions like asbestosis or mesothelioma, the latter which may take decades to develop. Congress banned asbestos for some uses during the 1970s, in part, to prevent future cases of these conditio

Akron’s rubber industry boomed in the late 1800s and early 1900s when companies like Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, General Tire and Firestone Tire settled in it. However, the dangerous effects of long-term exposure to asbestos took hold of thousands of worker by the 1980s and more than 12,000 injury claims were filed across the nation in what ended up being the longest-lasting mass tort in American history. In 2004, it became impossible for companies to legally challenge

Asbestos is a combination of six fibrous minerals that were commonly used for insulation in buildings until the late 1990s. When workers disturb products or locations containing asbestos, tiny fibers are released into the air. These tiny fibers can enter the lungs of workers, staying there for years and causing significant damage. Depending on the length of exposure, workers can possibly develop asbestosis or mesothelioma. Asbestosis can be a horrifying occupational disease,