Some serious injuries that a person can acquire from an accident may not be easily detected or may not manifest itself immediately on the outside. These harmful effects of an accident may only be tracked down from the inside. It can take a long time before that effect becomes obvious externally, and by that time, it may already be too late for the affected person.
These harmful or fatal effects can happen especially if the cause of the accident is a toxic chemical, and this kind of accident falls under a special type of personal injury case known as toxic tort. The cause of a toxic tort is the ingestion or exposure to high or low amounts of noxious chemicals, either for a short or long period of time.
There are different instances in which someone can acquire toxic injuries:
- Occupational exposure: From the name itself, injuries due to occupational exposure are acquired by workers who are constantly exposed to chemicals because the chemicals are an important tool or factor in the workplace.
- Pharmaceutical drugs: Some drugs may become toxic if they cause unintended side effects to people who take it. In some instances, these drugs may also be considered a defective product.
- Consumer products: Other products that contain chemicals that are often used, especially in homes, can also have unintended effects when ingested or inhaled.
- Environment: The most common example of contamination under this type is drinking dirty water. Environmental contamination also includes inhalation of toxic molds around the house.
Among the mentioned causes, occupational exposure, especially to those working in chemical laboratories, may be the deadliest. That is because workers are exposed to higher amounts of chemicals throughout the whole time period that they were working there. Carcinogens, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins can lethally damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes of these workers.
The Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, provides the safety standards for workers in chemicals laboratories. This code requires employers to “keep employee exposures at or below the permissible exposure limits (PELS) specified in the standard on air contaminants, which is also in the CFR, and other substance-specific health standards.”
An employee who acquired illnesses due to overexposure to dangerous chemicals may have to acquire the help of an accident injury lawyer if he wants to file charges against people who may be liable for his injury.
To learn more about toxic torts and the workers’ rights in working in chemical laboratories, consult with a knowledgeable Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.
The Mesriani Law Group has a wide range of legal resources as we work with the best lawyers and litigators in each state across the United States. We offer a unique attorney directory where you can find a lawyer's location and area of practices. For more information contact Mesriani Law Group at 310-826-6300 or visit the main office at 12400 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 810 Los Angeles CA 90025.
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