Houston Toxic Chemical Exposure Attorneys

Once an individual has been exposed to a toxic or hazardous chemical, it can impact virtually every system in the body, resulting in both short-term and chronic health consequences. Accidents resulting chemical exposure are most likely to occur in the workplace. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has estimated that as many as 32 million workers regularly come in contact with one or more chemical hazards. There are more than 190,000 illnesses and 50,000 deaths each year because of workplace chemical exposure.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of chemical exposure, contact our experienced Houston personal injury lawyers today at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. We will conduct an in-depth investigation and consult with medical experts to obtain evidence to support your claim. Call a Houston toxic chemical exposure attorney today at 281-283-8500 .

Often times, injuries resulting from chemical exposure are due from maritime accidents. At The Krist Law Firm, P.C. our team of Houston maritime lawyers can help if you’ve been injured in an offshore accident. You may be entitled to damages or Jones Act compensation.

Defining Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals

The toxicity of a chemical refers to the potential of a substance to cause damage or harm to your body. The toxicity of a chemical depends on the extent to which the substance is absorbed by the body, the chemical structure of the substance, and your body’s ability to detoxify the substance. The hazard of a chemical refers to the probability the substance will cause harm.

High Risk Industries for Chemical Exposure

Employers are responsible for maintaining a safe work environment, which includes reducing the risk of exposure to chemical hazards and toxic substances. When employers fail to take the proper precautions to prevent chemical exposure, they put workers at risk of serious injury or even death.

Although dangerous chemicals are used in a variety of occupations and industries, some of the most at risk include:

• Petrochemical plants
• Fracking
• Construction
• Refineries
• Manufacturing
• Industrial plants
• Pesticide industry
• Agriculture
• Oil and gas extraction
• Machinery operators
• Shipyards
• Maritime
• Hazardous waste sites
• Chemical labs

How Chemicals Exposure Happens

Harmful chemicals can enter the body in the following ways:

• Absorption – direct contact with skin or eyes
• Inhalation – contaminated air is inhaled directly into the lungs or mouth.
• Ingestion – contaminated food, drinks, hands, or cigarettes
• Injection –contaminated syringes or glass puncture the skin

Inhalation is the most common route of exposure and some of the typical points of entry are the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. After a toxic or hazardous chemical enters the body, it can travel through your bloodstream to damage internal organs. Regardless of the route of entry, the greater the amount of substances that enters the body, the greater the effects it will have.

Common Chemical Exposure Injuries

Exposure to toxic or hazardous chemicals can result in a wide range of adverse health effects depending on the kind of substance, the length of exposure, how much of the substance you were exposed to, and how it entered the body.

The health effects of chemical exposure can be either acute or long-term. Acute or short-term health consequences are immediately apparent, usually, reverse after exposure stops, and can range in severity. Chronic or long-term health effects tend to result from exposure to harmful chemicals over time and are usually permanent.

These may include:

• Skin infections or rashes
• Nose or throat irritation
• Tremors
• Cancer
• Heart failure
• Blood disorders
• Infertility
• Birth defects
• Miscarriages
• Burns
• Neurological damage
• Liver damage
• Kidney damage
• Vision loss
• Coal mines

Common Types of Chemical Exposure

Chemicals can come in a variety of forms including solids, liquids, dusts, vapors, gases, fibers, mists and fumes. According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the 57,975 chemical exposure accident from 1999-2008, the five most common substances were:

• Carbon monoxide
• Ammonia
• Chlorine
• Hydrochloric acid
• Sulfuric acid

Other toxic or hazardous chemicals closely associated with occupational illness or injury include:

• Asbestos
• Lead
• Benzene
• Pesticides
• Paint
• Solvents
• Silica
• Mercury

Contact our Houston Toxic Chemical Exposure Attorneys Today

The experienced Houston personal injury lawyers at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. can evaluate your case, explain the type of claim you can pursue, and describe the compensation available based the specific circumstances of your accident and injury. With over 27 years of experience handling virtually every type of personal injury case, our skilled and knowledgeable attorneys understand how to fight for the maximum compensation for your injuries and other losses.

We are committed to helping victims of chemical exposure get the compensation they deserve for their injuries so that you can focus on rebuilding your life in the aftermath of a serious accident. With the help of our experienced personal injury lawyers, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your past and future:

• Medical costs
• Loss of earning capacity
• Physical limitations
• Physical pain
• Disfigurement
• Mental anguish

To find out more about how a Houston toxic chemical exposure attorney can help, give us a call today at 281-283-8500 . We offer a free consultation and there are no fees unless we obtain compensation for your injuries.