What is Occupational Illness and Injury? Know the Major Differences

The terms of occupational illness and injury are very critical for any work environment. Unfortunately, these two happen very frequently in various working environments. Since it is a common topic of discussion for any type of employment the career of a workers’ compensation attorney is very flourishing. Moreover, private law firms are offering lucrative opportunities for workers' compensation attorney jobs in Illinois. General attorneys who have been looking for a bright future prospect can practice their expertise in this field.

Before making any further moves, get familiar with the terms and benefits of occupational injuries and illness in this article.

What Constitutes an Occupational Injury or Illness?

Occupational injuries refer to accidents that occurred at the workplace due to work roles. To be more precise, this one-time event can be pinpointed with an exact date, time and cause of injury. On the other hand, occupational illness is referred to as long-term exposure that leads to chronic health issues. It does not relate to any particular date or time of occurrence rather, it is measured in the length of time.

There are some clear differences between occupational injuries and disease. Understand the terms more vividly and take a look at the handful of health-related outcomes.

Occupational Injury

Occupational injury is defined as personal injury, disease and death resulting from any occupational accident. It is limited to cuts, fractures or poisoning. It can include anything that involves an accident like slips and falls resulting in broken bones, dislocation, lacerations, damaged eyes, face or machinery faults that can amputate limbs.

Occupational Illness

Occupational injury is defined as a long-term health condition that is developed gradually over time. It can be an acute or chronic illness, gradually developed skin disease, respiratory disorder or long-term disease. It can include anything involving chronic issues like repetitive motion that can lead to a serious syndrome, ling damage by harmful gas exposure or hearing loss by working in a loud environment without any ear protection.

In both cases, the lawyers have to establish a link between the damage caused to the employee and the reason for the occurrence. The attorneys gather potential medical documents to present before the court of law if necessary. Moreover, if the insurance company denies providing the benefits or compensation, the lawyer takes the responsibility to present it before the lawsuit. With strong medical evidence and reports, they can help you get fair compensation.

Final Say

Perilous working conditions that lead to short-term and permanent health issues are preventable with quality treatment. However, prevention requires the right knowledge, and superior negotiation skills to mitigate the hazards and protect the interest of the employee. Moreover, a general sense of awareness should be spread to educate workers about their rights against occupational illness and injury.