Ethylene Oxide Exposure and Minnesota Workers’ Compensation

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a flammable, colorless gas (above 51.3 degrees Fahrenheit) that smells like ether at toxic levels. It is found in the production of solvents, antifreeze, textiles, detergents, adhesives, polyurethane foam, and pharmaceuticals. It can also be found in fumigants, sterilants for spices and cosmetics, and surgical equipment sterilizers.

Exposure to ethylene oxide can cause eye and throat irritation, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, headache, convulsions, blisters, vomiting, and coughing. Exposure to EtO has also been linked to leukemia and other cancers, spontaneous abortion, genetic damage, nerve damage, peripheral paralysis, muscle weakness, as well as impaired thinking and memory. In liquid form EtO can cause severe skin irritation with prolonged or confined contact.

To learn more about Ethylene oxide in the workplace, read OSHA’s Ethylene Oxide Factsheet.

In Minnesota, workers who suffer injuries or illnesses related to chemical exposure at work are often eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, including wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and medical expense benefits.

Injuries or illnesses caused by chemical exposure are often difficult to prove, as these types of injuries or illnesses may develop over a long period of time, or the symptoms of these illnesses or injuries can be similar to other non-work related conditions.

A Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer can help evaluate your claim if you’ve suffered an illness or injury due to ethylene oxide exposure or any other chemical exposure at work. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email. 

 

Chemical Exposure Injuries and Minnesota Work Comp

There are thousands of different types of toxic chemicals that can cause hundreds of different types of chemical injuries. Direct skin contact with certain types of chemicals can cause chemical burns. Eye contact with certain types of chemical can cause serious eye injuries. Inhalation of certain types of chemicals can cause respiratory diseases or injuries. Exposure to some types of carcinogenic chemicals can cause cancer. Exposure to chemicals can be over a long period of time, and the onset of symptoms can be very gradual and slow in developing. Workers in almost every industry are exposed to at least some type of toxic chemical every day.

Substances containing zinc, lead, mercury and arsenic are toxic to a person’s organs. Exposure to zinc, lead, mercury and arsenic can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, shortness of breath, and abnormal heart rhythm. Significant exposure to these substances can cause coma, seizures, or even death. Skin or eye contact to these chemicals can cause burns.

Acids, such as hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, and alkalines, such as sodium ammonium hydroxide, can cause severe chemical burns if they come into contact with the skins. Ingestion of these chemicals can cause internal burns to the digestive system, and eye exposure can lead to vision impairment or blindness. Respiratory exposure can also result in respiratory injury.

Hydrocarbons, contained in things like gasoline, kerosene, paint thinners, and furniture polish can cause respiratory injury if inhaled, and skin contact can result in chemical burns. Even in small amounts, chemical spills and leaks can be hazardous to workers.

Employees who spot chemical spills in the workplace should notify the appropriate person of 1) the substance involved in the spill, if known, 2) the size of the spill, 3) the approximate rate of flow, and 4) any known exposures.

Unfortunately, chemical injuries can develop or a long period of time after long-term exposure, the symptoms associated with certain types of chemical injuries can mimic other types of conditions, and chemical injuries can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. If you suffer a chemical injury as a result of exposure to chemicals in your workplace, you may be entitled to Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and vocational rehabilitation benefits.

Unfortunately, chemical exposure injury claims can be very contentious, and workers’ compensation insurers very frequently dispute these types of claims. A Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney can help you navigate the Minnesota workers’ compensation maze and make sure that your interests are protected.

To schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with one of our Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyers, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Preventing Work-Related Eye Injuries

Work-related eye injuries can be temporary, or they can be devastating. Thankfully, most work-related eye injuries can be prevented. In Minnesota, if you sustain a work-related eye injury, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expenses, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and rehabilitation benefits.

There are more than 800,000 work-related eye injuries every year. Some of these injuries are temporary, and some result in permanent loss of vision. Most eye injuries occur in production jobs, transportation jobs, material handling jobs, service industry jobs, and construction jobs. Men are more likely to sustain eye injuries on the job than women. Workers between age 25 and 34 are the most likely to sustain work-related eye injuries.

Eye injuries are most often caused by:

• Flying particles
• Chemical splashes, vapors, or dust
• Being stuck by or bumping into an object
• Sparks or molten metal and other hot liquid splashes
• Light radiation from welding

According to OSHA, 90 percent of all workplace eye injuries can be prevented by wearing eye protection. Most injuries occur because an employee is not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident. In fact, some estimate that as many as three in five injured workers were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident. In other instances, workers were wearing eye protection, but the eyewear they were wearing didn’t adequately protect against the specific hazard involved.

Workers can help avoid eye injuries by:

• Obey workplace warning signs
• Always put on protective eyewear before entering an area where hazards may be present
• Use safety eyewear that provides maximum protection
• Make sure your eyewear fits properly and comfortably
• Inspect protective eyewear regularly and replace if there are defects
• Know where eyewash stations are located and how to use them
• Know basic first aid for eye injuries
• Store your protective eyewear where it won’t get scratched or damaged, and keep it clean
• Report potential eye hazards to a supervisor immediately

Eye injuries can be frightening and devastating. If you’ve sustained a work-related eye injury in Minnesota, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. For a free, no-obligation with a Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney, call us at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email.

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Minnesota Police Officers and Common Workers’ Compensation Injuries

Minneapolis police officers, St. Paul police officers, and other Minnesota police officers and law enforcement personnel place themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis to protect public safety. When a police officer is injured in the course and scope of his or her duties, those injuries are covered by Minnesota workers’ compensation.

We have successfully represented many MN police officers for workers’ compensation benefits after they sustained work-related injuries, such as:

Motor vehicle accidents: Police officers are at a high risk for sustaining injuries as the result of a car accident, simply by virtue of the amount of time many police officers spend in their squad cars. Regardless of fault, a Minnesota police officer is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they are injured as the result of a motor vehicle collision. In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, police officers may be entitled to personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, through their automobile insurance. If the crash was caused by the negligence of another party, the police officer may also have a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.

Slip and Fall Accidents: Minnesota’s icy winters create dangerous conditions for police officers going up and down stairs or walking on icy driveways or sidewalks. Falls can cause grievous injury, including head injury, traumatic brain injury, back injury, neck injury, or spine injury. Police officers who suffer injury as the result of a fall are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. They may also have a negligence claim against the person or entity responsible for maintaining the premises where the fall occurred.

Lifting injuries: Lifting injuries sustained by police officers are extremely common. Such injuries can range from temporary sprains and strains to serious spinal disc injuries. Lifting injuries sustained by police officers are covered by workers’ compensation.

Heart attacks: Law enforcement is an extremely stressful job. Heart conditions, including heart attacks, due to the stress of a police officers’ job duties, are often covered by Minnesota workers’ compensation. In fact, the Minnesota legislature has created a legal presumption that when a Minnesota police officer suffers certain heart conditions, they are presumed to be caused by the officer’s work activities.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Due in large part to increased awareness about the psychological effects of dealing with traumatic and stressful situations, more and more Minnesota police officers are seeking treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Police officers are often told that this condition is not covered by workers’ compensation. That is not necessarily the case. We have successfully secured substantial settlements on behalf of several police officers suffering from the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Injuries From Assaults: Physically dealing with dangerous suspects and criminals frequently results in injuries to police officers, ranging from gunshot or knife wounds, bruises, broken bones, dislocated shoulders, torn ligaments, head injuries, and a wide variety of other types of injuries. These injuries are covered by Minnesota workers’ compensation. In some cases, an injured police officer may also have a cause of action against the person who caused the injury.

Exposure to Hazardous Substances: Police officers are frequently exposed to hazardous substances, including chemicals, drugs, smoke, fumes, and even blood-borne pathogens. If a police officer suffers any health effects as a result of exposure to toxins or hazardous substances, those conditions are covered by workers’ compensation

Other common police officer injuries include:

• Dog Bites
• Cold Exposure or Frostbite
• Burns
• Occupational Hearing Loss
• Injuries From Falling Objects
  

In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, and civil liability claims against negligent third parties, injured police officers may also be entitled to additional benefits, including PERA or MSRS duty-disability benefits and healthcare continuation benefits. Meuser & Associates has successfully represented many Minnesota police officers for a variety of injuries for workers’ compensation benefits, no-fault benefits, auto liability claims, duty-disability applications and appeals, and healthcare continuation applications and appeals. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our lawyers, call us at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

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MN Work Comp and Ammonia Exposure at Work

On March 3, 2009, in Willmar, Minnesota, seven employees at the Jennie-O Turkey plant were treated at Rice Memorial Hospital and released, after an ammonia leak forced an evacuation of the plant.

Ammonia exposure and exposure to other chemicals at work is covered by Minnesota workers’ compensation. Not only are medical expenses related to the chemical exposure covered by work comp, but if an employee exposed to toxic chemicals misses work due the exposure, the employer and/or the work comp insurance company are responsible for paying wage loss benefits. If permanent injuries occur as the result of the exposure, permanency benefits may be available.

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most commonly used and produced industrial chemicals in the United States. Some of its chemical and physical properties include:

• At room temperature, ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a pungent, suffocating odor.
• In its pure form, ammonia is known as anhydrous ammonia and it is hygroscopic, which means it easily absorbs moisture.
• Ammonia has alkaline properties and it is corrosive.
• Ammonia gas dissolves easily in water and forms ammonium hydroxide, which is a caustic solution.
• Ammonia gas is easily compressed and forms a clear liquid under pressure.
• Ammonia is not highly flammable, but containers of ammonia may explode when exposed to high heat.

Ammonia exposure can cause catastrophic injury or death. It interacts immediately on contact with moisture found in a person’s skin, eyes, mouth, and respiratory tract to form a very caustic solution called ammonium hydroxide. Ammonium hydroxide damages tissues and causes an inflammatory reaction.

Inhalation of ammonia can cause severe and even life threatening health conditions. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in the air causes immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. This can cause damage to the throat and lungs resulting in respiratory distress or failure, which may lead to death. Lower concentrations can cause coughing and nose and throat irritation. Lung and throat injuries due to ammonia exposure may be permanent and can cause long-term health problems.

Eye or skin contact with low concentrations of liquid or gaseous ammonia can produce immediate skin or eye irritation. Higher concentrations can cause severe burns to the skin and injury to the eyes. Eye contact with concentrated ammonia can cause permanent eye damage or even blindness. The full extent of an eye injury due to ammonia exposure may not be evident for up to a week after the exposure. Skin contact with liquefied ammonia can also cause frostbite injury.

Ingestion of concentrated ammonia can result in corrosive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach.

Ammonia exposure is treated by decontamination with water, and supportive therapies to repair damaged skin, eyes, throat and lung tissues. Unfortunately, exposure to ammonia can have serious, long-term health effects.

Hopefully, the seven individuals treated for ammonia exposure in Willmar fully recover without lasting problems. Ammonia exposure cases can become very complicated, very quickly, particularly when an employee has suffered lung or respiratory injuries. This is because it is somewhat difficult to measure the extent of damage to a person’s lungs and airways after ammonia exposure. The case may also be complicated if the employee has a history of smoking or asthma prior to the exposure. Workers’ compensation insurance companies frequently argue that the employee has not sustained long term lung damage, or that the damage was caused by something else. It’s wise to have an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer on your side.

We recently represented a gentleman who was sent by his employer to an off-site location to fix a leaking pipe. The plant where he went had been evacuated due to a chemical leak. He was exposed to high concentrations of an unknown chemical, but he was assured by the on-site safety coordinator that he did not need a respirator or protective clothing. After several hours of exposure, he was experiencing burning eyes, a cough, difficulty breathing, and disorientation. He also experienced long term lung problems. The insurance company denied his claim. We successfully procured workers’ compensation benefits on his behalf, and he has a civil claim pending for negligence against the company where he was doing the repairs. They should have warned him of the danger of the chemicals he was exposed to, but they assured him that he was safe and directed him to keep working in the dangerous environment without protective breathing apparatus or clothing.

We have successfully represented a number of employees who suffered lung and respiratory damage as the result of exposure to chemicals at work. In some cases, in addition to workers’ compensation benefits, if a party is exposed to the chemical as the result of the negligence of a third party, other than the employer or co-workers, that employee may have a civil liability claim. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help make sure you receive all the benefits you are entitled to. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, call Meuser & Associates at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

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