New Jersey Workers Are at High Risk for Asthma

The US Centers for Disease Control reported today that workers in various industries and occupations are at risk for work-related asthma. CDC analyzed data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey and determined that in 21 states among an estimated 74 million adults employed at some time in the 12 months preceding the interview, 7.7% had current asthma.

New Jersey Workers Are at High Risk
Education 9.5% (5.3–13.7)

Education, training, and library 8.9% (3.9–13.9)
Health care and social assistance 9.0 % ( 4.7–13.3) 

Health care practitioners and technical 8.5% (3.6–13.4)
Retail trade 7.7% (3.2–12.2) 

Management 7.5% (3.4–11.7

Occupationally caused asthma has been deemed a compensable condition in NJ for workers' compensation benefits. An electroplater exposed to chronic acid spray and mist was awarded compensation because inhalation of the chrome dust acted as an irritant upon his latent disposition to allergy and was responsible for the resultant allergic bronchial asthma. Bober v. Independent Plating Corporation, 28 N.J. 160, 145 A.2d 463 (1958).

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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters). 

For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman  1.973.696.7900  jon@gelmans.com  has been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.