What Types of Diseases Are Common for Workers in the Medical Field?

 Posted on February 14, 2020 in Workers' Compensation

From time to time, everyone can get sick. However, if it is more than just a common cold, a person may need to seek medical attention. In some cases, a work environment may be the reason for an employee falling ill. An occupational disease is defined as an illness or harmful condition that is directly caused by job duties or is aggravated by hazardous conditions in the workplace. These dangerous conditions are not common to the general public. Depending on the industry, protective gear or safety precautions must be followed at all times. If these safety measures are not taken by an employer, a worker may be at risk of suffering from a serious illness or life-threatening disease. It is important to understand how workers’ compensation laws apply to these illnesses if they are caused by employment in the healthcare field.

Diseases and Illnesses Common to the Medical Profession

Healthcare workers face a wide variety of hazards on the job, including harmful exposures to chemicals, drugs, and radiation. In addition, doctors, nurses, and administrative staff can be exposed to many germs on a daily basis. Many viruses or infections are transmitted through the air in healthcare facilities.

Some of the infectious diseases for which employees in the medical field are most at risk include:

• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Hepatitis B and C
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Influenza
• Measles
• Rhinovirus
• Varicella
• SARS

Occupational Diseases Act

The Illinois Occupational Diseases Act allows employees to report an illness or disease and file a claim for compensation three years from the first appearance of symptoms. An exception to this rule is if the illness was caused by radiation or radiation equipment, the time limit for filing a claim is extended to 25 years after the last day of exposure. In most cases, workers must show medical records to prove that their disease was caused or irritated by working conditions.

Employers in any type of industry have a duty to protect their workers by providing a safe work environment. If it is proven that an employee is suffering from an illness or ailment directly related to his or her job, that worker should be eligible for benefits. This type of relief also applies to any of the employee’s dependents and may include:

• Financial compensation
• Medical benefits (including surgery)
• Hospital care, rehabilitation, physical therapy
• Prosthetics

Contact a Wheaton Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Any line of work can have potential risks based on the type of job duties. Working in the medical field can be very rewarding, but employees may be more susceptible to contracting certain illnesses or diseases because of their contact with sick patients. If you are wondering what to do if you have an occupational disease, our knowledgeable and compassionate DuPage County occupational diseases lawyers will assist you in filing a claim. In some cases, a disregard for safety practices by your employer may have led to you getting sick. The Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C. have more than 20 years of experience handling all kinds of workers’ compensation cases. Call us today at 630-665-5678 to schedule your free consultation.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2431&ChapterID=68

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-115/diseas.html