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Environmental / Occupational Disease

Helping Clients Afflicted With Environmental and Occupational Disease

State-certified attorneys understand complex work-related illnesses

Workers may be doing their jobs amid dangers are unseen or unknown. Exposures to toxic elements in the air or the physical environment can lead to cancer, mesothelioma and other ailments and health conditions. Workers who suffer these ailments are entitled to the same benefits as any other injured workers. If you believe you have developed a work-related illness or disease, the workers’ compensation attorneys at Goldschmid, Silver & Spindel can help protect your rights. We advocate every day on behalf of injured employees in the Los Angeles area.

Common unsafe work environments

Hazardous materials are found in many workplaces, and it can be very easy to be exposed to them. Some of the more common environments for such materials are:

  • Construction sites
  • Laboratories
  • Power plants
  • Hazardous waste dumps
  • Auto repair shops
  • Buildings with asbestos insulation
  • Buildings infected by mold

Even seemingly innocuous physical environments can pose dangers for workers whose immune systems make them susceptible. Cleaning products, paint and adhesives can give off fumes that result in illness. Our attorneys have considerable experience investigating workplace diseases and obtaining adequate compensation for our injured clients.

How hazardous occupational exposure can occur

Exposure can occur in a multitude of ways. Whenever there is a hazardous material present, there is a risk of contact through breathing or physical touching.

Employers often fall short of their legal responsibility for providing a safe working environment. Among their common failures are:

  • Lack of proper equipment
  • Malfunctioning or improperly maintained equipment
  • Lack of safety procedures
  • Insufficient training of employees
  • Failure to follow safety procedures

Among the 10 most recently cited Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations in 2017 were those related to failure to provide respirators to protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors and sprays. OSHA estimates that 5 million workers are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces throughout the United States. OSHA believes compliance with its Respiratory Protection Standard could avert hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses annually.

Types of diseases and illnesses

Occupational diseases and illnesses fall into these main categories:

  • Diseases, including cancer, caused by chemical agents, such as asbestos and heavy metals like lead
  • Diseases, including cancer, caused by physical agents, including radiation, intense light and loud noise
  • Diseases caused by biological agents, such as viruses and infectious or parasitic diseases
  • Diseases targeting specific organs, such as respiratory diseases, skin diseases, muscular and skeletal disorders and mental and behavioral disorders

No matter the cause or type of your illness, our veteran workers’ compensation attorneys stand ready to help obtain the full measure of compensation you deserve.

Contact our dedicated Los Angeles workers’ compensation law firm

With more than 150 years of combined experience, Goldschmid, Silver & Spindel helps with every type of workplace illness and disease. We accept cases on a contingent fee basis, so we get paid only if we get your benefits approved. To learn more about how our firm can help you, schedule a free consultation by calling 213-251-5900 or contacting our Los Angeles office online.

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Our Office
  • Los Angeles Office
    4221 Wilshire Boulevard
    Suite 460
    Los Angeles, California 90010
    Phone: 213-251-5900
    Fax: 213-386-2750
Million Dollar Results
  • "MULTIMILLION DOLLAR AWARD: For injuries sustained to a physician blood pathologist, after being exposed to formaldehyde in the workplace."

  • "MILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT: Verizon field technician injured at work incurring serious injuries to the lower back, neck (fusion) and upper/lower extremities."

  • "MILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT: Semi-truck driver involved in an out-of-state collision while working for a Hollywood entertainment company - resulting in severe lower back, neck, chest, head, urological and psychiatric disabilities."

  • "MILLION DOLLAR AWARD: A welder received compensation for his injuries as a result of cadmium exposure causing brain damage."

  • "$1.4 MILLION SETTLEMENT: A sheet metal installer was compensated after sustaining injuries to his entire body from falling 14ft off a scissors lift."

  • "MULTIMILLION DOLLAR AWARD: Versus Coca-Cola for an injured worker who fell from a forklift and struck his head sustaining blunt force trauma to his neck, spine and shoulder."

  • "OVER $ 1 MILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT: Southern California Edison Employee who sustained Fibromyalgia and Psychiatric consequences of the stress and wear-and-tear of her employment."

  • "MILLION DOLLAR AWARD: Versus Warner Brothers for employee who sustained severe spinal disabilities as a result of the physical wear-and-tear of his employment."