Were You Exposed to a Dangerous Chemical On the Job?
Every day, millions of Americans go to work in a toxic environment among hazardous materials and contaminated air and other toxic conditions. If you or a loved one is showing the ill-effects of exposure to dangerous materials or unsafe work conditions, talk to a Kansas City work injury lawyer at Humphrey, Farrington and McClain. We are a nationally recognized law firm with a team of trial lawyers who have secured over $800 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of victims who have suffered long-term health effects caused by workplace exposure.
Our attorneys have experience representing clients in individual and class action lawsuits relating to workplace exposure claims, such as:
- Asbestos and mesothelioma: Nationally, courts have awarded thousands of former asbestos victims and their families millions of dollars after it was determined that asbestos fibers commonly used in insulation products attached to the lung and throat tissues, causing a deadly respiratory cancer called mesothelioma.
- Benzene: Commonly used as an industrial solvent and in the manufacture of plastic products, benzene can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin into the blood stream. Major health effects include leukemia and a depressed immune system, leading to other unrelated illnesses.
- Polychlorinated biphenyl: PCBs were commonly used in the manufacture of coolants and dielectric fluids until they were banned from manufacture in the United States in 1976. Older industrial plants commonly used transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment manufactured with PCBs. Although no longer used in manufacturing, studies show that high levels of workplace exposure to PCBs can result in changes in blood and urine that may indicate liver damage.
- Trichloroethane: TCE is a man-made volatile organic chemical used as a solvent, often for removing grease from metal parts. TCE enters the body through skin contact or when a person breathes air or drinks water containing TCE. The chemical and its fumes can cause cancer and central nervous system changes, including unconsciousness, death and other bodily injury.
- Beryllium: Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is the result of inhaling beryllium dust or fumes. Beryllium sensitivity and CBD results when the body's immune system reacts to beryllium metal. Workers in specialty alloy processing are at greatest risk.
- Vibration: Whole body vibration and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is often caused by driving trucks, tractors, buses or other vehicles. It can result in serious disability in the lower back. Vibration and its effects on the body have been studied closely, and the effects of vibration are the subject of regulations in countries all over the world. The United States Center for Disease Control through NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) has published criteria documents to increase awareness of the effects of vibration on people among companies, manufacturers and others. Our firm secured one of the largest settlements in the U.S. for a HAVS claim.
These types of cases represent only a small list of the full range of catastrophic injury and wrongful claims relating to workplace exposure to hazardous materials, chemicals and work conditions. Contact us today.
From our offices in Independence, Missouri, we represent clients in workplace exposure and toxic tort claims and class action lawsuit throughout Missouri, Kansas and the United States.
