Workers in many different industries risk developing painful, debilitating, or dangerous skin conditions because of the nature of their employment. These workers may have the right to pursue workers’ compensation claims for their medical care, lost wages, and more. If you’ve developed a work-related condition, a Hershey occupational skin disease workers’ compensation lawyer can help you file a benefits claim and seek the compensation you’re entitled to.
Occupational Skin Disease Defined
An occupational skin disease refers to a medical condition of the skin caused by a person’s work activities, usually either because of physical trauma or an occupational illness. A skin disease qualifies as occupational when it arises within the course and scope of a worker’s employment. A person who develops an occupational skin disease may have a claim to workers’ compensation benefits to obtain medical treatment for their condition.
Common Types of Dermatological Disorders and Injuries
Common examples of skin injuries and occupational diseases that workers can suffer on the job include:
- Burn injuries – Including chemical burns, thermal burns, friction burns, electrical burns, and radiation burns
- Dermatitis – Also called irritant contact dermatitis or allergic contact dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin that results in itchy skin, dryness, rash, or swelling; the skin may also flake, crust, ooze, or blister
- Hives – Also called urticaria, a type of skin rash caused by adverse or allergic reaction to chemicals or other substances; stress can also trigger or worsen cases of hives
- Lacerations and abrasions – Cuts and scrapes in the skin
- Degloving injuries – Where the skin gets torn away from the underlying tissue
- Frostbite – Damage to skin tissue caused by cold
- Skin infections – Including bacterial or fungal infections
- Skin cancer – Including tar keratoses, arsenical keratoses, and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
- Dermal absorption – A condition where a chemical travels through the skin and enters the bloodstream or other organs or tissues
- Keloids – Excessive buildup of scar tissue
- Folliculitis – Inflammation of hair follicles typically caused by bacterial infection
- Miliaria – A rash caused by blocked sweat glands
- Xerosis – Abnormally dry skin
- Tinea – A type of contagious fungal infection of the skin
- Abnormal pigment changes
Common Causes of Occupational Skin Disease
Workers in certain industries may face a higher risk of developing an occupational skin disease due to their working conditions.
Industries where work-related skin diseases may occur more frequently include:
- Healthcare workers, including surgeons, nurses, laboratory technicians, and radiology technicians
- Hairdressers and estheticians
- Janitorial and maintenance workers
- Painters
- Construction workers
- Landscapers
- Utility workers
- Food service workers
- Miners
- Oil and gas well workers
- Industrial chemical manufacturing
- Agricultural workers
Some of the top causes of occupational skin diseases include:
- Friction
- Excessive and unprotected exposure to UV radiation from sunlight
- Exposure to excessive heat or cold, including touching hot surfaces
- Radiation exposure
- Exposure to or skin contact with toxic or caustic chemicals or substances
- Viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection
- Accidents involving tools, equipment, or machinery
- Electrocution
Seek Help from a Hershey Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you’ve been diagnosed with a skin disorder caused by your work, you may have the right to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Contact Calhoon & Kaminsky P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a workers’ compensation occupational skin disorder attorney to discuss your legal options.
