SILICOSIS – probably many of you don’t know this name, but it is familiar to people working in building demolition, tunnel boring, construction, or stonemasonry companies. Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling air containing silica dust. The list of professions whose workers are exposed to silicosis is long because any work in conditions of silica dust exposure without adequate protection poses a health risk. In New York, many Poles working in construction companies involved in erecting and demolishing buildings, boring tunnels, performing work related to drilling, crushing and processing stones, or sandblasting, suffer from breathing problems. Remembering that even short exposure to silica dust causes it to settle in the lungs, they should pay particular attention to the protective measures used. A protective mask is often an insufficient form of protection against this harmful substance.
Workers should be equipped with respirators to protect their respiratory tracts. Working in conditions of silica dust exposure can cause shortness of breath, coughing, pulmonary fibrosis, nodules and scars on the lungs, resulting in their hardening and a significant reduction in breathing capacity. The effects of exposure to this harmful substance can be very serious and sometimes even fatal.
The most important thing, however, is quick diagnosis and treatment. The treating physician who determines the connection between the disease and the work performed should inform the patient as soon as possible. This is because the patient has a legally defined period to file a claim for compensation. In the case of municipal employees, the law allows a maximum of only 1 year and 90 days from the date of the first symptoms to file a claim. This is a very short time. Often, patients downplay the symptoms, and the doctor identifies the connection between the disease and the patient’s work too late. If the patient files their compensation claim with the city too late, they may irrevocably lose the right to pursue it.
Ongoing construction, structural, and demolition work in NY means that the number of exposed workers remains very high. Unfortunately, not all of them have adequate protection against harmful substances, and employers often understate the results of measurements of dust concentrations in the workplace. Due to the need for quick action and often pursuing the rights of the injured worker in court, it is advisable to cooperate with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Attorney Andrzej Kamiński has been representing injured clients suffering from occupational diseases for years. He treats each case individually, ensures proper preparation of the claim, gathers evidence, and fights in court for the compensation due to the injured party.
If you suffer from shortness of breath and coughing, accompanied by fever, and you work in conditions of exposure to silica dust, see a doctor as soon as possible and come to our office. We will prepare and file your compensation claim and pursue your rights in court. It may be necessary to call experts and witnesses; we will ensure their summoning and fight for you to receive the compensation due to you and your family. Remember the expiring time limit for filing a claim. This can be crucial in your case.
We invite you to our office. We will review your case and protect your rights. If you don’t have a doctor yet, we will help you find a specialist who will ensure your proper treatment. Don’t delay! Silicosis is an incurable and often fatal disease, so it must not be underestimated. Injured workers need treatment and care, and their families need financial support when the patient can no longer work to support them. Remember, health is the most important thing. If you have alarming symptoms, contact us; you may be entitled to compensation. It will help you and your family when the disease inevitably deprives you of the ability to continue professional work.
We invite you for a free consultation at the Law Office of Attorney Andrzej Kamiński, who has represented thousands of injured clients in cases concerning occupational diseases and work accidents.
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