Glendale Workers Compensation Lawyers Discuss Workers’ Compensation for Allergic Reactions

Workers’ compensation will generally cover the medical expenses of an employee that fractures a bone or receives a burn as a result of a work-related incident, but what about allergies? Will workers’ compensation award benefits to an employee that experiences an allergic reaction on the job?

Generally, yes. Workers’ compensation is awarded to employees that suffer from any personal injury due to working conditions or working environment. Even if the employee is unaware they have an allergy to a certain food or substance, they may be given workers’ comp benefits if they have a severe allergic reaction in the workplace. The following is a brief overview, however, one of the workers compensation lawyers from our Glendale WI firm can explain the issue in more details.

Types Of Allergic Reactions That May Be Covered By Workers’ Compensation

Although seasonal allergies may not be in the realm of illnesses that may award workers’ comp benefits to employees, severe allergies and allergic reactions may very well be in the scope of illnesses covered by workers’ comp insurance.

If an employee has a severe food allergy, then it is advised to tell the employer of it immediately. Communication is key in preventing serious allergic reactions caused by food, and even if one person in the workplace is unaware of the severe food allergy, an allergic reaction can occur. Reasonable requests for those that suffer from food allergies should always be tolerated and followed by both employers and fellow coworkers.

The overall health of an employee should not be compromised due to the ignorance of a coworker or manager, so telling employer of the severity of the food allergy is essential. An employee with a severe food allergy may request that he or she is allowed a separate fridge, or that all other workers disclose all of the ingredients in a dish at a work-related event to avoid contamination. If the employee does, in fact, have an allergic reaction at work despite the best efforts of the employer, then any medical expenses that follow may be covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

Even if the employee is unaware of their food allergy and they have a severe allergic reaction at work, workers’ comp should cover the expenses of any hospital fees or provide benefits for any time missed from work due to the incident.

Allergies to other substances, such as chemicals or materials that are used in the workplace can also be a valid reason for an employee to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

Contact dermatitis can occur when one is exposed to a substance that triggers an allergic reaction and may leave an employee with severe itching, rash, and even blisters that form. This form of allergic reaction can occur anywhere between minutes and hours from the time of contact with the substance, and it can last up to weeks. Employees may or may not be aware that they have an allergy to a certain substance in the workplace, especially if they work somewhere that involves handling various chemicals.

If an employee does happen to have an allergic reaction to a substance that was used at work that results in contact dermatitis, they may be awarded workers’ compensation benefits for their injuries. Contact dermatitis may result in an employee needing time off work, which may be paid for by workers’ comp insurance as well.

Glendale workers compensation lawyers can evaluate your situation and evaluate if you have a workers’ compensation claim.