What are Chemical Injury Claims? Bakersfield

A chemical injury claim is a claim for compensation made by, or on behalf of, a person injured as a result of contact with corrosive, toxic or otherwise hazardous substances. Claims such as these are called 'personal injury claims' and are usually handled by a solicitor.
Hazardous substances including dangerous chemicals sometimes need to be used in industrial working environments like factories or other workplaces. As long as proper health and safety measures are taken in the process of handling these substances, employees should be able to continue their work without any damage done to their health.
However, where there is a breach of health and safety regulations, such as lack of training or failure by the employer to provide the necessary safety clothing, chemical injury claims can arise from work accidents which happen with those substances.
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How severe is a chemical injury?
The damage done to a person by exposure to chemicals can depend on a number of factors, including the severity of exposure, length of exposure, and the individual's particular susceptibility to chemical injury. Some people may be affected by small amounts of a substance where others would not be, and allergies can play a part in whether a person is affected.
Injuries from toxic chemicals such as arsenic, lead, mercury and zinc can affect every one of the organs within the body. Symptoms of chemical injury can range from headaches and nausea to confusion, vomiting, shortness of breath and an abnormal heartbeat. Where the exposure continues over a very long period or with high doses of dangerous substances, chemical exposure can even lead to death.
Because any negative effects and be the result of long-term exposure to chemicals at very low doses, chemical injuries can be very hard to diagnose.
Who can make a chemical injury claim?
If you have been injured as a result of using hazardous substances as part of your job, you may well have a case for making a chemical injury claim. Employers have a responsibility towards their employees to ensure a safe working environment, and that includes taking precautionary measures against accidents happening with dangerous substances.
Steps must be taken by employers to identify and eliminate any health and safety risks. To do this, the employer is required to carry out regular risk assessments and to act on what they find.
They should also make themselves familiar with the particular risks associated with any substances used in their workplace, and take any necessary safety measures such as restricting the length of contact employees have with those substances, providing safety clothing such as gloves or masks and taking particular care of any employee with a known susceptibility to any chemicals in use.
What to do if you have suffered a chemical injury
If you have been a victim of chemical injury, it is important to find out as soon as possible whether you can make a claim for compensation. Getting in touch with a reputable claims company is a good start - they will be able to assess your claim free of charge and put you in touch with a specialist solicitor where appropriate.