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Legal Representation for Victims of Offshore Cancer

Maritime toxic chemical exposure can lead to several illnesses for offshore workers. Workers must remain mindful of the hazardous chemicals the large tankers and barges they work are carrying. These chemicals can include benzene, toluene, naphtha, gasoline, xylene, jet fuel and other refined petrochemicals. Many workers suffer injury from inhalation and exposure to chemical fumes, vapors or even the product itself. If you or a loved one is living or passed away from work-related cancer, contact The Carlson Law Firm to speak with an expert offshore cancer lawyer.

Not only does our firm have more than 40 years of experience representing injured clients—we also have top maritime injury attorney Reed Morgan. Morgan has achieved several significant trial victories and settlements for victims of toxic exposure and misconduct. If you have been injured on the job, contact our firm today. Our firm will advocate for your rights and hold the right parties accountable for your injury.

Types of Maritime Toxic Chemicals

Toxic chemicals can come as a solid, liquid or gas. The most common way maritime workers risk exposure to toxic chemicals is through inhalation. Some chemicals, such as benzene, dissolves easily and inhalation may happen without knowledge. Offshore workers also risk exposure to toxic chemicals through the skin, eyes, and mouth. While maritime toxic chemical exposure ingestion rarely occurs, the damage to internal organs can be extensive. Workers risk damage to the throat, mouth, and stomach.

Illness and disease caused by these various chemicals include:

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML Leukemia)
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome or Myelodysplasia (MDS)
• Aplastic Anemia (AA)
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Blood Cancers / Bone Marrow Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Bladder Cancer

What is Benzene?

Benzene is a colorless, sweet-smelling flammable liquid. As mentioned above, Benzene evaporates quickly when exposed to air—making it easy to inhale. While benzene occurs naturally in volcanoes and forest fires, most exposure to Benzene comes from human activities. It is among the most commonly used chemicals in the United States. Consequently, it is used in making other chemicals including plastics, lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticides. The chemical had several other uses in the past, including as a gasoline additive, but that has been significantly reduced in recent decades. Benzene also occurs naturally in crude oil, gasoline, vehicle exhaust and cigarette smoke.

Benzene Regulation

There are several government agencies that regulate benzene level and exposure. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), limits benzene air exposure in the workplace to one part per million during an average workday. If employees are working at particularly high levels, OSHA requires employers to provide personal protective equipment such as respirators.

Benzene Links to Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, benzene exposure increases the likelihood of developing certain types of cancer. Benzene linked cancer research has largely focused on leukemia and other cancers of blood cells. If you or a loved one are living with cancer or passed away from a benzene-related illness, contact The Carlson Law Firm. Our expert offshore cancer lawyer can help you decide what your next steps are.

Maritime Benzene Exposure Symptoms

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has classified benzene as a carcinogen. Studies link the substance to aplastic anemia and infertility among women. Additionally, benzene is known for causing immune system damage. When the immune system has been compromised, a person may become more susceptible to bacterial and viral illnesses as well as allergies.

Common effects of breathing in Benzene include:

• Dizziness;
• Drowsiness;
• Headaches;
• Rapid heart rate;
• Confusion;
• Tremors; and
• Unconsciousness

In addition to being an inhalation hazard, benzene can also be absorbed through the skin. Whenever an offshore worker handles cargo containing benzene they should remain prudent in handling the product within safety parameters. It is important to remember that only a few parts per million can lead to leukemia.

In the same way employees should take caution when handling items containing benzene, employers must put precautions in place to prevent or minimize a worker’s exposure to benzene. If you are currently living with cancer after working around benzene, an offshore cancer lawyer can help. Contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with top maritime injury attorney Reed Morgan.

Asbestos

Asbestos is not actually a chemical but is instead a bundle of fibers that naturally occurs. It is part of a group of minerals found in soil and rock around the world. It is made of mostly silicon and oxygen but also contains other elements. There are two mineral families of asbestos and both have been linked to cancer.

• Serpentine asbestos (white asbestos), is the most common type of asbestos used in industrial applications. Chrysotile is the only type of asbestos from the serpentine family. It gets its name, serpentine, from its spiral appearance under a microscope.
• Amphibole asbestos have straight and needle-like fibers. There are several types of amphibole fiber.

Because of the nature of their jobs, offshore workers routinely risk exposure to potentially dangerous situations and materials—including pipe insulation. Because it is a natural flame retardant, many offshore installations and ships were built using asbestos as an insulation. Work conditions alone put many workers at risk, but many workers don’t consider the long-term risks associated with the materials and chemicals they are around.

Lung Cancer

Breathing in asbestos increases the risk of developing lung cancer. All forms of asbestos increase a person’s lung cancer risk. Most cases of lung cancer caused by asbestos occur at least 15 years after the first exposure.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that often affects the thin lining of the organs in the chest and abdomen. Usually, most cases of mesothelioma occur 30 or more years after first exposure.

Additionally, asbestos exposure is also linked to voice box and ovary cancer, and asbestosis. Cancer of any form is unpleasant. Because of this, employers have a legal responsibility to ensure conditions aren’t injuring their employees in the present—or 15 or 30 years down the line. An offshore cancer lawyer can help you get the recovery you deserve.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is another chronic lung disease resulting from the inhalation of asbestos particles. Severe fibrosis and a high risk for mesothelioma are markers of the condition. Prolonged exposure to fibers that causes lung tissue scarring and shortness of breath. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and don’t usually appear until several years after continued exposure.

Most instances of asbestosis happened on the job before the federal government began regulating the use of asbestos and asbestos-related products in the 1970s.

Symptoms

The effects of long-term exposure to asbestos typically don’t show up for 10 to 40 years after initial exposure. Signs of asbestosis include:

• Shortness of breath
• Persistent, dry coughing
• Loss of appetite with weight loss
• Fingertips and toes that appear wider and rounder than normal (clubbing)
• Chest tightness
• Pain in the chest

After an asbestosis diagnosis, your chances of developing lung cancer increase. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, talk to your doctor about the possibility of asbestosis. Your medical bills may be costly, however, you should not have to pay them alone. Contact The Carlson Law Firm to speak with an offshore cancer lawyer about your situation.

Symptoms of Toxic Chemical Exposure

Toxic chemical exposure is a serious source of injury and illness for offshore workers. When employers are negligent, it can have devastating consequences on their employees. Effects of maritime toxic chemical exposure on your body can be acute or chronic.

• Acute (short term): These are the symptoms that show up immediately following exposure to the chemical. Symptoms can range from minor like nose or throat irritation or serious such as eye damage or passing out from chemical vapors.
• Chronic (long term): These effects can take several years to show up, like cancer. Symptoms occur after prolonged exposure to a harmful substance. Chronic effects are usually permanent.

Preventing Maritime Toxic Chemical Exposure

As stated above, employers have a responsibility to protect employees from potential harm. By implementing proper safety controls, companies can decrease an employee’s chances of getting cancer from maritime toxic chemical exposure. In fact, OSHA has a long-standing policy that an employer’s implementation of work practice and engineering must be the basis of reducing employee exposure to toxic chemicals. Further, OSHA requires respiratory protection whenever basic work practice and engineering doesn’t prevent maritime toxic chemical exposure. For that reason, OSHA provides the information below for employer knowledge.

OSHA’s Chemical Exposure Effectiveness Measures

Elimination or Substitution

As demonstrated by the graph, elimination and substitution is the ideal prevention method. An example of eliminating or substituting is transitioning to a safer chemical for employees to handle.

Engineer Controls

The second tier in the order of preventing exposure to toxic chemicals. This involves implementing a physical change to the workplace which eliminates or reduces the hazards during an employer’s task. As a result, employers can change the process to minimize contact with toxic chemicals, isolate or enclose the process, use film hoods and other strategies.

Administrative and Work Practice Controls

Moving down the list, when a company implements administrative and work practice controls establish efficient process or procedures. For example, this can include rotating job assignments or adjusting employee schedules to avoid overexposure to toxic chemicals.

Personal Protective Equipment

The most basic of preventive measures simply requires employees handling toxic equipment to wear something. Examples include eyewear, gloves, respiratory protection or chemical protective clothing.

If your employer did not implement these measures to protect you from maritime toxic chemical exposure, contact The Carlson Law Firm to speak with a qualified offshore cancer lawyer.

An Offshore Cancer Lawyer from The Carlson Law Firm Can Help

Working aboard ships and other offshore facilities is a risky and demanding occupation. Workers risk exposure to many hazards that can lead to physical injuries or illnesses that develop years down the line. Because of this, federal law requires that companies protect their employees from potential hazards. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. For many offshore work employees, symptoms of the illness caused by your maritime toxic chemical exposure may not begin until decades after the initial exposure. However, the law still entitles you to certain protections. Your company may be required to help you or your family pay for medical bills and other damages as a result of their negligence. A qualified offshore cancer lawyer can help you determine what your next steps are.

If you or someone you love is suffering from cancer as a result of maritime toxic chemical exposure, you may be entitled to the compensation you so rightly deserve. Contact the Carlson Law Firm today for a free, no obligation, consultation with our offshore cancer lawyer, Reed Morgan. If you are looking for prompt, personal and proven representation for your offshore injury, Jones Act claim or any other Maritime Law claim, The Carlson Law Firm is here to help. Above all, our team of attorneys, specialists, and research associated has the experience and resources to guide you through your legal journey and help you secure the best results possible.