Occupational Illnesses Have Been Around Since Pyramids

Occupational illness, also known as an occupational disease, is one of the least understood areas of workers compensation insurance.

An occupational disease is any chronic ailment that develops as a result of the work done by an employee.

An occupational disease is any illness occurring in a group of workers at a higher rate than it does in the general population.

Occupational diseases have existed at least from the time the Pyramids were built in Egypt. The stonecutters developed respiratory problems from breathing too much stone dust. It is believed that they had the earliest known cases of silicosis.

Workers compensation claims for occupational disease is a small part of the total number of workers comp claims, but can represent a disproportionate amount of the total cost of workers compensation. This is due to the chronic nature of these illnesses/diseases and the on-going need for medical care (often the employee’s lifetime). Most occupational diseases do not occur as of a particular date, but develop over a period of time. The time frame can vary from immediate with the exposure to some toxic gases to decades for the development of cancers from the exposure to carcinogens.

The extended time frame results in a large number of the occupational diseases not being identified as such and many going unreported. It also creates a problem for the workers comp insurer – is the disease the person has a result of their employment, or is the cause and origin not related to the employment? Uncertainty in this area results in the need for in-depth medical research when a workers compensation claim is filed to determine whether or not employment is the reason the disease developed.

There are various types of occupational diseases, grouped a:

1. Skin diseases

2. Lung diseases

3. Musculoskeletal & repetitive motion

4. Exposure to harmful substances or environments

5. Other occupational diseases

Most occupational diseases of the skin are caused by exposure to chemicals or over exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Common occupational skin diseases include eczema and dermatitis from chemical exposure, and sunburn and skin cancer from over exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Occupational skin diseases are not limited to chemical manufacturers. Common occupations like printers and hairdressers can development occupational skin diseases. Construction workers, farm laborers and other outdoor workers are exposed to the risk of skin cancer from over exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

The most well known occupational diseases are the respiratory diseases affecting the lungs. They include:

1. Asbestosis among those who work with friable asbestos insulation and asbestos mine workers.

2. Coal miners pneumoconiosis also known as black lung disease among coal mine workers.

3. Byssinosis also known as brown lung disease among cotton textile workers.

4. Silicosis among those who work around silica dust.

5. Occupational asthma brought on by various work place irritants.

6. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by employees who smoke and are also exposed to certain gases and fumes in the workplace. Examples of this would be chefs and cooks who use cooking gas without proper ventilation

The best known occupational disease in the musculoskeletal group would be carpal tunnel syndrome caused by repetitive motion of the wrist. It is common in painters, butchers, typists and others whose jobs entail the constant flexing of the wrist or who use improper ergonomic alignment of their arms and hands while working.

Tendonitis caused by the overuse of a body part is also a common musculoskeletal occupational disease. Like carpal tunnel syndrome, it is often caused by the employee using a poor technique to perform the work. It is common in many occupations but occurs most among workers engaged in fabrication, manufacturing and laborers.

In addition to skin diseases and lung diseases, exposure to harmful or toxic substances can cause injury to other body parts. Exposure to carcinogens can cause cancer to develop in various body parts, plus carcinogens have been known to cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, and nervous system and renal disorders.

There are other types of occupational diseases. Hearing loss is common among factory workers exposed to loud machinery for years, and jack-hammer operators in construction work. (WCxKitz)

Occupational diseases are caused by exposures related to the employee’s work. Occupational diseases, while infrequent in comparison to traumatic injuries, normally have a higher average claim cost. By knowing and identifying the potential occupational diseases your employees can develop, your company can take the necessary precautions to prevent them from occurring and thus controlling workers compensation costs.

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