Asthma is a debilitating lung condition that can impact both one’s productivity and quality of life. While there is no cure for asthma, this lung condition can be managed using inhalers and other lifestyle changes that remove individuals from environments which may be causing lung irritation in the first place. Asthma can strike unprovoked, and it may get worse over time if not properly managed. Individuals who have no history of this condition may suddenly develop it in a phenomenon known as new-onset asthma. Federal workers who become victim to this condition may have been exposed to toxic chemicals for an extended amount of time, or poor air quality or even inclement weather in the line of duty.

According to the FECA Act of 1916, all federal workers are entitled to compensation and medical care should they develop a work-related illness, and asthma is no exception. That said, the compensation process can be convoluted and ask for specific information within a certain timeframe, and this is where a federal workers’ compensation attorney comes in.

Are you looking for a best federal workers’ compensation attorney? If you developed asthma while working for the federal government in any agency and do not have history of asthma, you may be able to recover compensation under the FECA Act via the Department of Labor and The Office of Workers’ Compensation. These claims rely heavily on objective medical evidence as well as a complete file with all the necessary paperwork filed within a set timeline, so the process needs the careful and timely attention of an attorney who will help make sure that not only is your file complete, but that you meet all deadlines as required by OWCP. We serve all injured and unwell federal workers countrywide, and we have a bilingual staff (hablamos Espanol), catering to all forms of federal worker injuries and illnesses. For your 100% FREE consultation into occupational asthma claims for federal workers, please give us a call NOW at 312-444-0214 – a legal expert is standing by.

How Do Federal Workers Develop Occupational Asthma?

New-onset asthma is a condition that is triggered by a certain workplace exposure, with the most common ones being dust exposure, poor air quality indoors, the use of certain chemicals to clean a facility, and any airborne molecules such as working in close proximity to a factory or exposure to fires and the resultant smoke as a federal forestry worker. Common asthma symptoms include wheezing, coughing, having to catch one’s breath, and they get worse as the day progresses, but get better when one moves away from their federal office. It is also important to note here that even exposure to occult mold in office spaces can be a trigger, so the source may not be as apparent and may need to be investigated.

What Federal Departments are Most at Risk for Asthma?

It has been shown through studies that asthma is common in some federal departments or agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of the Interior. In addition, law enforcement officers, firefighters, those working in older buildings prone to asbestos and mold exposure, and custodial staff are all more likely to develop asthma due to their exposure to environmental respiratory irritants as well as questionable indoor air quality.

Federal Worker Asthma – Why Early Intervention is Key

Successful treatment and management of asthma is key if one is going to be able to adjust to the condition without a dip in quality of life. Therefore, early diagnosis plays a huge role in new-onset asthma management as it allows for timely medical assessment and intervention as well as provides strategies to help lessen one’ exposure to irritants. In addition, the federal agency may also implement workplace accommodations to help limit or eliminate workplace exposure altogether.

Proving Work-Related Asthma for Federal Workers

When it comes to legal remedies for new-onset asthma, FECA requires that you show your new-onset asthma was either caused or aggravated (made worse) by your federal employment or work environment, and this can be done via comprehensive medical tests and experimental exposure. The Department of Labor will also require detailed medical files that lay out treatment plans, diagnosis, as well as objective medical opinions showing a causal link between your new-onset asthma and a specific work-related exposure. Once approved, you may be eligible for wage loss, medical treatment and/or disability payments if it is determined that your asthma is permanent and you’re unable to work.

Federal Workers are Supported by the Americans With Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act also supports the rights of federal workers who developed new-onset asthma, as it provides protection against discrimination for individuals with disabilities. The Act compels employers to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate those with this condition so they can continue to be productive federal workers. These accommodations include things like the installation of air filtration systems, comprehensive mold removal, flexible work schedules so that the worker is not exposed to particulates when they are at their highest with regard to exposure, the use of air purifiers and oxygen concentrators, and so much more. It is important to note here that you can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC if your employer refused to accommodate your asthma via any of the remedies previously listed, or if you faced retaliation due to the condition so you can seek legal remedies.

New-Onset Asthma in Federal Worker – Legal Help is Available, Call Today!

There are numerous benefits one can recover if they developed asthma while working for the federal government, such as cost of medical treatment, wage loss compensation, vocational rehabilitation costs, schedule awards, death benefits for survivors of federal workers who lost their lives due to asthma complications and other additional benefits. It is thus vital that you work closely with a federal workers’ compensation attorney who handles asthma claims to receive full compensation benefits in accordance with the law. Don’t go it alone, and don’t wait another day: call our attentive and efficient federal workers’ compensation lawyers NOW at 312-444-0214 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation, wherever you are in the country. Thanks for choosing McCready Law, and we look forward to helping you.