Hazmat & Chemical Exposure Injuries
Were you exposed to hazardous chemicals, toxic fumes, or other HAZMAT on the job?
If you’re coughing, dizzy, burned, or facing long-term illness after workplace exposure, don’t shrug it off. Hazardous-material injuries and occupational disease claims are different animals than a broken bone. They require fast documentation, medical testing, and a lawyer who understands causation, latency, and BWC rules. We handle these claims every day.
Call now: (614) 486-3249 — Free case review. $0 until we win.
Who this page is for
Workers in manufacturing, waste handling, labs, painting/finishing, construction, trucking, utilities, hospitals, and janitorial services who were exposed to chemicals, fumes, gases, solvents, acids, asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials on the job — and who need help getting benefits or proving the exposure caused their illness.
What counts as a hazmat / chemical exposure injury?
A “hazmat” injury can be immediate (inhaled fumes, chemical burn, acute poisoning) or delayed (occupational disease from repeated exposures, chronic respiratory disease, certain cancers). Ohio workers’ compensation covers occupational diseases and injuries caused by job exposure — but you must connect the illness to your work.
Key benefits you may be entitled to
- Medical treatment — all reasonable, necessary treatment related to the exposure.
- Wage replacement — if you miss work because of the exposure you may be eligible for temporary total/partial disability payments.
- Permanent disability — if exposure causes long-term impairment.
- Vocational rehabilitation — if you can’t return to your old job, BWC programs can help with retraining, job placement, and related living maintenance benefits.
How to prove a hazmat/chemical exposure claim in Ohio (what really matters)
- Get medical care immediately. Documenting symptoms and objective findings (bloodwork, lung tests, burn photos) is the single most important step. Seek care even if symptoms seem mild — delayed claims are harder.
- Tell your employer and put it in writing. Report the exposure right away and keep copies of incident reports, emails, and safety logs.
- Collect evidence of exposure at work. Safety data sheets (SDS), supervisor statements, co-worker statements, maintenance logs, air-monitoring reports, incident reports, PPE records, and photos/video of the scene.
- Prove causation. For occupational disease or chronic exposure, you must show the job was the primary cause of the injury or illness, which usually means medical expert testimony linking the exposure to your condition. This is where many claims fail without a lawyer.
- File on time. Occupational disease claims and exposure claims have filing windows. Missing deadlines can kill a claim before it starts.
Typical scenarios we handle
- Acute inhalation of fumes or gas (solvent, ammonia, chlorine, smoke)
- Chemical burns or corrosive exposures
- Chronic respiratory conditions from repeated exposure (reactive airways disease, chronic bronchitis)
- Heavy-metal exposures (lead, mercury) and related testing/monitoring needs
- Workplace carcinogen exposure claims where illness appears years later
- Employer failure to provide PPE, or attempts to blame the employee
What to do now: Step-by-step
1.
If you haven’t already: get urgent medical care and tell the provider your symptoms were caused by workplace exposure. Keep copies.
2.
Report the exposure to your employer and get a written incident report or confirmation.
3.
Call us for a free, no-obligation review: (614) 486-3249. We’ll tell you honestly what you have, what we’d need to prove it, and whether we can help — no fluff.
4.
If you already filed and were denied, call immediately, denials can be appealed but timing and evidence matter.
Will workers’ comp cover my chemical exposure?
Maybe. Ohio covers occupational diseases and exposures, but coverage depends on proof your job caused the injury. That’s why medical records and exposure evidence are crucial.
My symptoms started months after exposure. Is it too late?
Not necessarily. Some toxic exposures have delayed effects. But there are filing deadlines and causation hurdles, call now.
Do I have to sue my employer?
Usually no. Most hazmat exposure cases go through Ohio workers’ compensation. You might have a separate lawsuit in rare cases (third-party, gross negligence). We’ll evaluate both.
How long will this take?
No honest lawyer can promise a timeline. Some claims resolve quickly; others need testing and hearings. We’ll give a realistic outlook once we review your records.