How to Collect Arizona Workers’ Compensation when Something Invisible at Work Makes You Ill

WHEN THE INVISIBLE TOXIN MAKES YOU ILL

It is important that your workplace should be regularly cleaned and even sanitized where applicable. If there is one outcome learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be that the cleaner and more sanitized your work environment is, the less likely you become ill from strange viruses and toxins lurking in the air, or on surfaces you might touch. The first sign that you are working in a place that is contaminated with something is when you are feeling ill. If other workers in your area are getting ill as well, then the contamination is in your area rather than throughout the whole workplace.

When you get ill and you cannot figure out what is causing it, see your doctor at once so you can be tested for what ails you. If you have had allergies in the past, you know that when you go to the doctor to find out what you are allergic to, there will be many tests done to pinpoint the culprit in your environment. Things like dust, pet hair and dead skin particles, certain types of insects, household chemical cleaners, and new clothing material you have never used before, are usually the elements causing the problems.

If you are taking any prescriptions, check for any visible signs that something was spilled on the pills that could make you sick. You can even have your doctor check the pills, especially if you began feeling ill after you brought home the new prescription. Things like this can (and do) happen more often than you would like to know.

Your doctor engages in the dual role of the special investigator (think Sherlock Holmes) as well as being your doctor who prescribes medicine. The questions asked of you and the testing done can take time, however, once done, will need data analysis to see where there is a problem.

FIRST STEPS TO TAKE IN LOOKING FOR ANY WORKPLACE CONTAMINATION

If you are the only one at work who is sick and there are others working in the same area, think about what differences there might be between what tools, machines, and sections of the workspace you are in, that differ from what the others do. You must, first, determine if you are ill from something at home, like a change in cleaning chemicals, bug sprays for seasonal invasions, change in clothes detergent, or anything that is out of the ordinary.

Once you rule out anything affecting you at home, then you can go back to the workplace and begin investigating your workspace. Do note that if you feel better during the weekend you spend at home, then the cause of your illness is not there. Here are some ideas about what to look for in your workspace area:

• Check each machine (and your tools) for any fluid leaks from joints or leaking onto the floor underneath,
• Look for stored containers lined up against the wall that might have a leak and check for strong chemical smells emanating from storage areas you may not have noticed before,
• Find out how often the floor area is washed down and what chemicals are used in the cleaning process,
• Note if there are any rodents or other pests building nests in your area, which can create toxicity that spreads through the air from molding food or excrement,
• Check the company’s lunchroom for cleanliness and how often it is cleaned, too,
• Keep a journal of specific times you feel more ill than other times, indicating a specific location, and
• Talk with your fellow workers and find out if anyone else has felt ill and what those symptoms were and if they have been to the doctor too.

NOTIFY THE FLOOR MANAGER AT ONCE WHEN YOU FIND EVIDENCE

If there is no floor manager, notify the employer at once if you find leaking chemicals. Employees in the area should stop working at once and move to an area where there is fresh air. Some chemicals (both liquid and gasses) are odorless but that does not mean they are not harmful. Depending on how long the leak has been going on, exposure to the chemical may already be at a point that it can affect the body in any number of ways, including developing cancer.

This would be a good time to let the employer know in writing that you intend to file a claim for workers’ compensation as you need to find out first what the long-term exposure and subsequent physical damage might be, especially if you have a low immune system or have had cancer before.

Whenever you find chemical leaks, never touch the leak in any manner, including stepping in it. Request a special crew to come in with their protective gear to clean up the area. Block off the area so others do not walk through the contamination by accident.

GET HELP FAST WHEN YOU NEED IT.

If you find that you are suffering an illness due to contamination at work, see an Arizona workers’ compensation attorney at once for help. Arizona Injury Law Group offers experienced and Certified workers’ compensation lawyers and legal services for injured workers. Call for your free consultation! 602-346-9009.