Types of Work Related Injury and Illness

An overview and explanation of the common types of Work Related Injuries and Illnesses and their legal implications.

Traumatic Work Injury · Repetitive Stress Injury · Skin Diseases · Respiratory Conditions · Poisoning · Hearing Loss · Other Occupational Diseases

Traumatic Work Injury

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, an average of nearly 16 workers die each each from traumatic occupational injuries. Traumatic work injuries can occur in nearly every industry and affect workers of all ages. Broken bones, soft tissue injuries, burns, dislocations, lacerations, constusions, sprains, and amputations are among the traumatic work injuries that workers may face. Hazards are present at almost every worksite, and work injuries often result from falls, motor vehicle accidents, electrocutions, machinery. Fires, explosions, and assault are additional causes of traumatic workplace injuries. Mining, transportation, construction, and agriculture have some of the highest rates of traumatic occupational injury, but any worker in any industry may be at risk. Most workers compensation claims will be categorized under traumatic physical injuries.

Repetitive Stress Injury

Occupational repetitive stress injuries, known as RSI's, comprise more than one hundred different types of job-induced injuries and illnesses resulting from wear and tear on the body over a period of time. Repetitve stress injuries are one of the fastest growing workplace injuries, and can happen any time there is a discrepancy between the physical requirements of a job and the physical capacity of the worker's body. Risk factors for RSIs include repetitive motion, force, awkward posture, heavy lifting, or some combination of these factors. In repettitive stress injury cases, some employers will try to prove that the injury was a result of an activity outside of work. However, a doctor usually will support the injured worker if he or she was subject to repetitive action as part of a job, had no past problems, and developed the problem while he or she was working.

Skin Diseases

The Bureau of Labor has reported that more than 50,000 cases of occupational skin disorders are reported annually, representing up to 20% of all occupational diseases. However, many incidences of workplace skin disease go unreported, and the true rate of occupational skin disease is probably much higher.

The most common occupational skin disease is contact dermatitis, an inflammation that occurs when an irritating substance comes into contact with the skin. Cases of contact dermatitis may be classified as acute (weepy, edematous, vesicular, blistered) or chronic (dry, cracked, scaly, thickened).

Occupational acne is another workplace skin disease that can result from excessive exposure to oil and grease. It may present itseld as aggravation of existing acne, usually in the face or neck area, and secondary infection from bacterial folliculitis is common.

Occupational leucoderma is a white discoloration of the skin, usually on hands and forearms, that appears as a result of exposure to phenols and hydroquinone at the workplace.

Occupational skin tumors can result from exposure to substances such as polycyclic hydrocarbons, inorganic metals, and arsenicals. These lesions can also develop because of trauma, burns, and exposure to ultraviolet light or ionizing radiation, and may be cancerous.

Respiratory Conditions

Respiratory diseases represent a major proportion of occupational diseases in many countries, including the United States. You may be at risk for occupational respiratory disease if the air you breathe at work contains an excessive amount of dust, fumes, smoke, gases, vapors, or mists. Poor ventilation, closed-in working areas, heat, and outside air polluation can increase the risk of respiratory disease. Below is a list of some of the most common respiratory diseases that can affect workers:

Malignant Mesothelioma Asbestosis Lung Cancer Occupational Asthma Silicosis Chronic Bronchitis Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Emphysema Respiratory Tuberculosis Pneumoconiosis Allergic Alveolitis (also known as "farmer's lung") Metal Fume Fever Polymer Fume Fever

Poisoning

Occupational poisoning can affect workers in many industries, including agriculture, chemical, mining, construction, military, metallurgy, manufacturing, and others. Occupational poisonings can include poisoning by the following:

According the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, during 1972–2001, the number of occupational poisonings ranged from a high of 7,600 cases in 1993 to a low of 2,800 cases in 2001. Inadequate ventiliation can be a contributing factor in workplace poisonings. Preventing occupational poisonings and pesticide-related illnesses requires ongoing efforts to determine the underlying causes of overexposure to chemicals and pesticides in the workplace.

Hearing Loss

Occupational hearing loss is damage to the inner ear from noise or vibrations due to certain types of jobs. The most common cause of occupational heating loss is acoustic trauma from loud noise. Some jobs, such as construction, airline ground maintenance, mining, farming, transportation, manufacturing and utilities and other jobs involving loud music or machinery, carry high risk for occupational hearing loss. Sounds above 90 decibels may cause such intense vibration that the inner ear is damaged, particularly if the sound is prolonged.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates that employers provide hearing conservation programs for employees in workplaces where noise levels equal or exceed 85 decibels for an eight-hour time-weighted average. An occupational hearing conservation program includes engineering and administrative controls to decrease noise exposures, employee training in the use of hearing protection, and annual audiometry (testing of hearing ability) for all workers who are exposed to noise.

Other Occupational Diseases

Occupational disease is surprisingly common, and the spectrum of occupational diseases is extremely broad. These diseases result from a variety of biological, chemical, physical, and psychological factors that are present in the work environment or are otherwise encountered in the course of employment. In some states, workers can collect damages for specific occupational diseases, but it must to be demonstrated that these diseases would not develop from ordinary life experiences.

The following list of occupational diseases should not be considered exhaustive, but provides an overview of some of the more well known occupational diseases.

Chronic Conditions

Metal Poisoning

Other Illnesses and Medical Conditions:

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