Stand Up To Cancer - World Cancer Day is Saturday, February 4, 2012

Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) is a non-profit organization dedicated to curing the world of this devastating disease. SU2C hastens the pace of groundbreaking cancer research by funding and uniting scientists through Dream Teams and Innovative Research Grants. Learn more at www.standup2cancer.org.

Related articles

• Great American Smokeout --- November 17, 2011 (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• More Evidence Mounts That TSA Scanners Are Dangerous (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• NIOSH Warns: Erionite: An Emerging North American Hazard (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• Carolina Asbestos Textile Industry Risk High Mortality (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• It is Time To Do The Right Thing (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• The Toxic Legacy of Raybestos-Manhattan Continues (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)

Workers Compensation Benefits Awarded for Breast Cancer

The Nevada Supreme Court has awarded workers' compensation benefits to a firefighter who alleged that her occupational exposure at work to toxic substances caused her breast cancer. The court held that there was substantial evidence that supported the finding that her exposure to known carcinogens was causally related to her breast cancer.

The injured worker was employed for the City of Las Vegas in 1992 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She under whet treatment and lost 8 to 9 months of work. In 2004 she suffered a recurrence of the breast cancer and under when a double mastectomy and chemotherapy.

The Nevada statute defines what  a "carcinogen" is based upon the definition of the International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] or the National Toxicology Program [NTP]. The former firefighter alleged that she was exposed to benzene, a know carcinogen. One of her expert witnesses, Dr. James Melius, testified that, "Several studies have found occupational exposure to benzene to be associated with breast cancer risk in both males and females."

Also her treating physician causally related her medical condition to her occupational exposure to carcinogens. He advised her to cease work as a firefighter.

City of Las Vegas v. Lawson, No. 53900, 126 Nev. Adv. Op. 52, 2010 WL 542282 (Nev. 2010) Decided December 30, 2010.

Related articles

• Workers Compensation Benefits for Breast Cancer to Be Law in Manitoba (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• Employee Sues Co-Worker Following Perfume Assault (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• Too Old to Get Workers Compensation (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)

Workers Compensation Benefits for Breast Cancer to Be Law in Manitoba

The Canadian Province of Manitoba is about to enact a law recognizing breast cancer to be a compensable condition for female firefighters. The legislation, will also provide workers' compensation for  prostate cancer, melanoma and multiple myeloma.

The Canadian Broadcasting System (CBC) reports that, "The risk of developing breast cancer is three to five times greater in a female firefighter than in the general population, Forrest said, noting 'at every fire there are more than 200 known carcinogens that are connected to breast cancer.'"

Related articles

• Breast Cancer Linked to Night Shift Work by Danish Compensation System
• Congress Told Workers Compensation is a Deteriorating System (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• Breast Cancer Linked to Occupational Exposure
• Caution Your Job May Cause Cancer
• New Biomarkers Discovered for Mesothelioma May Lead to Early Detection (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• Cosmetic Workers Suffer Exposures at Work
• Warning: Surgeon General Finds Tobacco is Even More Dangerous to Your Health

Working Overtime Results in Compensation Heart Attack

Working overtime that resulted in a heart attack was deemed to be a compensable dependency claim.

"The compensation judge held that Anthony's overtime work contributed in a material way to his heart attack. In reaching that conclusion, the judge found that the work effort was more intense than the normal wear and tear of Anthony's daily living."

"The parties agree that the overtime work was more strenuous for Anthony than daily living tasks. Glen Gery required Anthony to change heavy paddles or blades that churned the water and shale. To access the blades, he was required to use a jackhammer to remove hardened material, each chunk weighing between thirty and forty pounds. Once the hardened material was removed, certain blades had to be replaced. To replace the blades, a shaft weighing approximately 200 pounds had to be lifted off the ground by at least two workers who were required to push, lift and pull until each new blade was secured. Anthony worked that day performing intense manual labor in a hot and dusty environment."

"Dr. Malcolm Hermele, petitioner's expert, opined that the heart attack occurred on the day Anthony worked overtime, and that his work effort contributed materially to it. Hermele pointed to the results of tests performed the day after Anthony worked overtime to prove when the heart attack occurred. A creatine kinase (CK) enzyme test showed a reading of 1453. A normal reading would be zero. He explained that the CK enzyme is released into the blood stream when there is damage to the heart. Anthony's troponim levels and the result of his brain natriuretic peptide test show that he was experiencing a heart attack. Hermele concluded that a 1453 reading was evidence that Anthony's heart attack occurred within a day or two of the test, during which Anthony performed the overtime maintenance work."

Reading v. Glen Gery Shale and Brick Company, Not Reported in A.3d, 2010 WL 4137298 (N.J.Super.A.D.)Decided October 21, 2010
.....

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered work related accident and injuries.

Related articles

• Heart Disease Associated with Overtime Work (workers-compensation.blogspot)
• Mark Dantonio: Michigan State Coach Suffers Heart Attack after OT Win (blippitt.com)
• What Does CK Mean in a Blood Test? (brighthub.com)

Spinal Kinetics-A New Computer Assisted Radiographic Mensuration Analysis

A new approached to the objective measurement of spinal damage is now being offered by Spinal Kinetics. The technique provides standards for the measurement for spinal ligamentous assessments using Computer Assisted Radiographic Analysis (CRMA). Board Certified Radiologists utilize a new computer assisted program to  determine: a treatment plan, ability to play and work, as well a pain management.


Click here to read more about this Spinal Kinetics
..........
For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational exposures.

Lung Cancer Risk High Despite Absence of Asbestosis Diagnosis

Asbestos workers continue to have a higher risk for lung cancer even if asbestos findings are not present on x-ray. A recent report in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine concludes, "Workers from an Ontario asbestos-cement factory who did not have radiographic asbestosis at 20 or 25 years from first exposure to asbestos continued to have an increased risk of death from lung cancer during an additional 12 years of follow-up." 


Click here to read more about workers' compensation and claims for benefits. For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com  have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered asbestos related illnesses.