EtO exposure and employee rights: What employees need to know

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires factories, plants, and other establishments handling, producing, and using EtO to comply with permissible exposure limits (PELs). Under OSHA standards, the maximum average concentration should not go beyond 1 part per million (ppm) during an 8-hour shift. The short-term limit, on the other hand, is only five ppm covering a 15-minute period.

EtO workplace safety and workers' rights explained

Aside from the mandatory PELs, federal law also grants employees, especially those handling hazardous substances such as EtO, the right to know and demand a safe and healthy workplace. Some of the basic and most important rights outlined by current OSHA and federal regulations include the following.

• The right to information and training: Companies should inform workers about EtO and other chemicals present in their workplaces. Likewise, they must also provide the necessary training in handling these substances, as well as what precautionary measures to take.
• The right to be protected: Employers are required to provide their employees with the necessary protective suits and gear to prevent or minimize harmful EtO exposure.
• The right to access medical records: Employees can acquire copies of their medical records, including results of tests conducted to monitor EtO levels, in their workplaces.
• The right to file complaints: Workers have the right to file confidential complaints with OSHA should they suspect unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.
• The right to be protected from retaliation: When reporting about injuries, hazards, or unsafe working conditions, employees are protected from being fired, demoted, or otherwise punished.
• The right to refuse unsafe work: Employees also have the right to refuse work if workplace conditions clearly present a risk of death or serious physical harm, and provided they have already brought the matter to the attention of their employers.

When health issues tied to occupational EtO exposure arise

Unfortunately, not all workplaces comply with and follow OSHA regulations when it comes to handling EtO. As a result, many industrial employees had been unknowingly exposed to the cancer-causing chemical for a long period of time. Worse, some of them have been diagnosed with severe health conditions.

There had already been multiple studies linking prolonged EtO exposure to certain cancers. These include the following:

• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer (male, female)
• Stomach cancer

When a worker is constantly exposed to EtO and develops any of these cancers, they can pursue legal options, even if they have already retired. These include filing toxic exposure claims.

Getting the right legal support from ELG Law

If you want to know more about how to secure compensation through toxic exposure claims, you have come to the right place. At ELG Law, we have assisted dozens of individuals in filing their claims, including many exposed to the hazardous EtO.

We also provide case evaluation at no cost. All you have to do is submit your medical and employment records. If you qualify, we will promptly get in touch with you. Contact us today.