Ototoxic Exposure in the Workplace

Everyone knows that working in loud environments can have a negative impact on an employee’s hearing. Continued exposure to loud noises could cause permanent hearing loss, as well as other health issues. However, that’s not the only situation that may result in hearing loss.

Exposure to a group of chemicals known as ototoxins can have devastating consequences. If exposure to these chemicals resulted in your hearing loss, you may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits. An experienced attorney can help guide you through the process.

Forewarned is forearmed

Employees who are exposed to ototoxic chemicals could lose their hearing or even have long-term problems with balance. Ototoxins can be found in pesticides, certain pharmaceuticals and solvents used in many different fields. When ototoxins are used at particularly loud work sites, the risk of hearing loss drastically increases.

The best way to protect yourself and other employees from exposure to ototoxins is to know what they are. The most commonly known ototoxins are carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, mercury, and tobacco smoke. However, there are a number of other ototoxins that could cause equal or greater damage to an employee’s hearing.

Get the right gear

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can go a long way toward preventing ototoxin exposure as well as exposure to other harmful occupational hazards. If an employee does not use or have access to the proper safety equipment, an accident which might have been considered minor in other circumstances may have serious and lasting effects.

Employers must take steps to ensure that anyone working in an area where they might be exposed to chemicals has been properly trained on how to prevent an exposure. Those employers must also provide adequate headphones and audio protection for their workers. The proper training and the right gear make all the difference in the workplace.

The Pennsylvania workplace accident lawyers at Vellner Law have seen the disastrous consequences of toxin exposure in the workplace. The effects of an exposure can alter the course of a person’s life and career. If you have been involved in an accident at work, contact us today. The aftermath of a workplace accident can be difficult to navigate. You need an experienced lawyer on your side. You need Vellner Law. Call us today.