5 Jobs That Can Cause Occupational Lung Diseases

Occupational lung diseases are lung ailments caused by long-term exposure to certain irritants at the workplace. These irritants are not at all good for your lungs. Normally, the lung ailments can have lasting effects, even when your lung is not exposed to the irritants. A variety of airborne particles from different sources such as fires, smokestacks, exhaust, mining, construction, factories and agriculture can cause lung problems.

Some of the prominent lung diseases are:

Asbestosis

This condition happens when tiny asbestos fibers find their way into your lungs. Asbestosis makes the lung tissues stiff and causes scars on the lungs. Those who work on construction sites are more prone to this condition.

Silicosis

Silicosis is caused when someone is exposed to crystalline silica. Crystalline silica comes from drilling, cutting, chipping, grinding of soil, sand, granite and other minerals. Those who work in glass manufacturing, tunnel work, stone cutting are more likely to develop silicosis.

Byssinosis

This is a form of occupational asthma and is a rare lung disease sometimes referred to as Brown Lung Disease. Inhalation of cotton, hemp and flax material causes byssinosis, which causes shortness of breath and tightness of chest. The workers of the textile industry are most affected by this.

Some additional common lung diseases include black lung disease (coal worker's pneumoconiosis) and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Both are work-related and can cause life-threatening health complications. These occupational lung diseases are serious and should be treated as quickly as possible.

Jobs That Can Cause Occupational Lung Diseases

Some of the jobs which are more likely to cause occupational lung diseases include:

1. Construction Workers

The workers who are involved with drywall products, cement insulation, concrete, sanding, and drilling tools are likely to develop lung diseases. These workers inhale dust in renovation and demolition work that can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

2. Welders 

The welding process involves working with molten metal that produces toxic fumes which can cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and cancer of urinary tract, larynx, and lungs.

3. Miners

Workers at mining sites are at a high risk of developing several lung diseases as they are prone to lung ailments such as silicosis, COPD, and pneumoconiosis known as black lung.

4. Aerospace Industry Workers

These workers are exposed to beryllium which causes berylliosis or lung cancer. Some of the symptoms of berylliosis are shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue and dry cough.

5. Factory Workers 

Factory workers inhale gasses, chemicals, and dust that can cause COPD. In some cases, it causes bronchiolitis obliterans which is a more serious form of COPD.

How Are Work-Related Lung Diseases Diagnosed?

Symptoms of occupational lung disease can take many years to surface. In the earliest stages, they are often misdiagnosed as the cold or flu. The difference is that the symptoms of occupational lung disease are persistent. Often, the patients suffering from occupational lung disease will stop responding to treatment. Any cough or upper respiratory distress you experience that lasts longer than two weeks should be evaluated by your physician. In order to accurately diagnose your condition, a biopsy, x-ray, or other tests may be required. If a diagnosis is made early enough, you will be able to explore more viable treatment options.

Can Work-Related Lung Diseases Be Prevented?

The only way to really prevent work-related lung diseases is to avoid exposure to the environment and materials that cause them. Even when every precaution is taken by you and your employer, you will still be exposed to some degree of risk. Some professions offer more risks than others. Your employer must advise you of these risks and also provide as many tools and resources as possible to help limit your exposure. Living a healthy lifestyle and receiving an annual physical examination may help you uncover any work-related lung disease in its earliest stages.

If you have been diagnosed with work-related or occupational lung disease, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Speak with a  certified workers’ compensation specialist to learn more about getting the benefits you deserve.

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Cole, Fisher, Cole, O’Keefe + Mahoney is Central California’s leading workers’ compensation and social security disability law firm. With over 30 years of successful experience, we are committed to securing maximum benefits for our clients in the Fresno, California area. Schedule a free consultation today.