Maryland Benzene Lawyer
Exposure to benzene in Maryland should not be treated lightly. Benzene, a chemical compound that has the potential to cause serious health problems, is a regularly used chemical in the manufacturing of plastic and rubber products. It can also be found in oil, gasoline, and cigarettes.
Maryland residents can be exposed to benzene in their houses, workplaces, in the outdoors, or even by drinking contaminated beverages or water. Typically, this chemical is in the air at low levels and does not affect most people, barring there are no high levels of pollution in the air.
Due to recent regulations, most companies that produce items containing benzene, such as paint, furniture wax, and detergents, are developing cleaner alternatives to eliminate this potentially deadly chemical in their products.
Many of today’s workers in Maryland continue to suffer from benzene exposure. The advanced treatments commonly required to treat benzene exposure victims are expensive and time-consuming. A skilled Maryland benzene lawyer could assist victims that have been thoroughly exposed to this toxic chemical and fight to hold the negligent parties responsible for damages and costs. Reach out to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney today.
Types of Benzene Lawsuits in Maryland
According to the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA), the amount of allowed benzene in a workplace must be regulated at all times. Moreover, OSHA also states that employers should constantly monitor the levels of benzene exposure by succinctly testing their employees.
How Are Benzene Lawsuits Received by Employers?
Unfortunately, for some companies, these regulations fall onto deaf ears. Due to this lack of respect, workers suffer the long-term effects of exposure. By contacting a skilled Maryland lawyer, workers that have been exposed to benzene can look to initiate a toxic tort lawsuit against their employers.
Generally, there are three types of benzene-related claim cases. Workers can look to bring a product liability claim against the manufacturer that produced the afflicted items that they use in the workplace. For instance, in a plastics factory, a claim can be made against the manufacturer of a chemical utilized to create plastics.
Could an Environment Contribute to a Benzene Case?
Another type of claim revolves around the employer for failing to provide the worker with a safe environment. Many employers fail to inform their employees of the dangers of benzene exposure and do not acknowledge its presence for questionable reasons.
Lastly, the worker can file a claim against the manufacturer and the employer. In this case, the manufacturer did not provide the worker with the appropriate equipment needed to protect them from benzene exposure.
Common Sources and Effects of Benzene Exposure
Before the dangers of benzene exposure were understood by the public, the chemical was commonly used in a variety of consumer products and had little to no regulation. Eventually, its use was restricted but benzene remains instrumental in the production of a variety of goods such as:
- Adhesives
- Nylon
- Plastics
- Paint or lacquer
- Glues
- Furniture wax
- Detergents
The symptoms of benzene exposure can be flu-like symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, weight loss, and fever. In some cases, there is an immediate reaction such as nervous system toxicity and various types of leukemia.
Assisting Maryland’s Benzene Exposure Victims
Benzene exposure can have a tremendous impact on one’s life. With potentially severe health consequences at stake, there is no room for negligence in any workplace. With the help of a knowledgeable Maryland benzene lawyer, workers can fight to hold the appropriate parties accountable and look to obtain maximum compensation for damages.
