Pollution in the United States poses health risks for everyone, regardless of race, language, age or country of origin. A large percentage of U.S. Latinos, however, live and work in agricultural and urban areas where they face a heightened risk of exposure to air pollution, unsafe drinking water, and pesticides.

For years, the dangers of pesticides have been in the news as have reports of the serious and often fatal illnesses those pesticides cause. Between 30 and 50 million kilograms of pesticides are applied to lawns in the United States each year in hopes of killing the pests that kill the lawns. With most, if not all pesticides, all ingredients are not required to be listed on the label. There are almost 5,000 ingredients that are legally permitted to be a part of a pesticide's formula without being listed on the label. Benzene and formaldehyde are just two of the many toxic chemicals that need not be listed.

According to the Safer Pest Control Project, people living in homes using pesticides face increased risk of leukemia, brain cancer, lymphoma and asthma. Pesticides are very easily tracked indoors and can accumulate inside homes. When used properly, however, pesticides offer many benefits; pesticides increase crop production, preserve produce, fight insect infestations, and help to control exotic species. However, it is estimated that there are approximately 10,000-20,000 pesticide poisonings in the United States each year.

Despite the serious, and sometimes fatal risks, government officials have largely overlooked the impact of environmental hazards on the health of Latinos. Relevant data has not been collected, and few studies have been conducted to assess the health threats in Latino communities. Warnings about environmental health risks are often not provided in Spanish, so if a warning is posted, Spanish-speaking citizens would not even be able to read it.

Many Hispanics are left without the information they need to evaluate the risks to their health from environmental contaminants at their jobs and in their neighborhoods.

Below are just some of the risks the Latino population faces:

88% of farm workers in the U.S. are Latinos facing daily pesticide exposure
1/3 of Latinos live in Western states where arsenic, industrial chemicals, and fertilizer residues often contaminate water supplies
Twice as many Hispanic children than non-Hispanic children are likely to have lead in their blood at levels higher than the level established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for risk of lead poisoning
91% of Hispanics in the U.S. live in metropolitan areas where polluted air increases the risk of asthma and some types of cancer

If you or a loved one has suffered after exposure to environmental contaminants in Houston or anywhere in Texas, please contact the Toxic Torts Attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates.

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Being injured on the job can be both a scary and painful time, and there are many employees who are not sure how they should respond and what they should do if they are injured on the job. It is important to realize that there are options for you if you have been injured while working, and you need to make sure you report the injury and take measures to receive the appropriate compensation. There is no need for you to suffer in vain, so you need to learn what to do in the event that you are injured on the job. Inform Employers Immediately

The first thing that you need to do if you are injured on the job is to notify your employer as soon as possible. If you fail to report the accident immediately, you may find that there is trouble getting coverage later, since the accident may not have been documented. It is imperative that you inform your employer and make sure that an accident report is written up as well. Your employer is required to give you forms to fill out for insurance company and for the state workers compensation, and you need to fill these out immediately. If you do not turn in your forms on time, you may be denied coverage and benefits from both parties.

Overcome Fear

Unfortunately, many people do not report their injuries because they fear retaliation from their employer or even loss of their job. If you do not report your injury, then you are not eligible for benefits, so do not let fear ruin your chances to be repaid. In most states there are laws regarding retaliation and job termination of people who make workman's compensation claims, and these laws are in place to protect you. If you are not familiar with your state's laws you may want to check into them to be sure about their content. As a general rule, most companies will not retaliate against you for a claim, and in the even that they do, you can then take legal action against them.

An Agreeable Employer

Many times employers will agree to cover your on the job accident, and if they do this is excellent for you. It is important to realize that if your employer does decide to cover your accident, you cannot file any separate suits against your employer. The situation is best if your employer agrees to cover the accident; however, many times this is not the case.

What if My Employer Refuses to Pay?

There are times when an employer may feel as if the accident was not related to the job, or they may have another reason for refusing to cover your accident. If so, you will need to have an arbitration hearing with the Board of Workers Compensation about the matter. In the event that the Workers Compensation board agrees with your employer, you do have the ability to go on and appeal the decision that was made.

Seek Legal Help

If you have been injured on the job and are working to make any worker's compensation claims it will be worth your while to seek legal help. It can be quite difficult to understand all the legal terms and legal matters that you need to deal with when making worker's compensation claims. A good lawyer can help you with your claims and ensure that you file them correctly to expedite your benefits. Acting without an attorney may result in difficulties, so if you feel you have a case, it is wise to start by consulting with an attorney.

Dealing with an injury that occurs on the job can be very difficult, but it is important to realize that you do have options. There is no need for you to have to deal with an injury without being compensated for medical bills and pain in suffering. Making sure that you report the injury and make the appropriate claims can help you receive the money and benefits that you deserve, and an attorney can make the process much easier for you. While you cannot change the injury that has occurred, you can decide to make sure that you get the compensation deserved.

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¶ 8:02 PM 0 comments