Ask the Attorney:
Can I Get Workers Compensation for COPD
from Exposure to Cleaning Products?

If you are unable to work due to a lung or breathing problem that was caused by your employment, you can collect workers compensation. This includes respiratory conditions or illnesses that are caused by exposure to cleaning products in the workplace.

While this sounds straightforward, the difficult part can be proving that your breathing or lung condition was the result of your working conditions. In this article our experienced Long Beach workers’ compensation attorneys explain how you can collect workers’ compensation for exposure to cleaning chemicals in the workplace.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – typically called COPD – refers to a number of lung diseases that limit airflow and make it difficult to breathe. COPD includes bronchitis and emphysema. While COPD cannot be reversed –new advancements in treatment are being developed every year. Sadly, COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Eleven million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COPD, and it is estimated that millions more may have the disease and not realize it.

National COPD Statistics

According to a 2023 report by the American Lung Association, 23.5 million adults in the US have COPD, which is about 9.4% of the population. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 466,000 new cases of COPD are diagnosed in the US each year. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)

Sadly, the CDC also reported in 2023 that 150,000 Americans die from COPD each year, making it the third leading cause of death from chronic respiratory disease.

California COPD Statistics

The California Department of Public Health reported in 2023 that over 1.4 million Californians have COPD, or about 6.8% of the state’s adult population. And while this is lower than the national average, the CDC also reports that 16,000 Californians died from COPD in 2019.

Workplace COPD

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued a report in 2023 which estimates that over 400,000 workers in the US have COPD due to occupational exposure to dust, fumes, and chemicals.

According to that report, workers in industries like mining, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing are at the highest risk of occupational COPD.

And the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) reports that in 2021, there were 2,335 claims for lung diseases accepted in the state, including COPD. This represents 0.4% of all accepted California workers compensation claims that year.

Workers Compensation for Exposure to Cleaning Products

Unfortunately, workers’ compensation insurers often try to deny a valid workers comp claim by asserting that the COPD is not the result of the performance of work duties. They may try to blame the lung disease on smoking, or exposure to toxins at home.

But if you and your attorney can prove that chemical exposure in your workplace is what caused your COPD, you will qualify to collect Workers’ Compensation benefits.

It is important to understand that exposure to bleach and other cleaning products can increase your chances of COPD or other fatal lung disease by almost a third. Breathing bleach fumes also increases the occurrence of smoking-related conditions by a third.

This means that certain types of workers may be at greater risk of developing COPD due to workplace exposure. Janitorial workers, custodians, laundry workers and day porting staff are the first employees who come to mind when considering exposure to cleaning products.

However, nurses, dental hygienists and other medical personnel who routinely sterilize surfaces are also at risk of COPD from workplace exposure. Disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde (used for medical instruments), as well as bleach, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol and quaternary ammonium compounds (aka “quats”) can also cause lung disease.

Waitresses, busboys, dishwashers and other food service workers may also regularly be exposed to bleach and other cleaning and sanitizing products.

Studies Prove Workplace Cleaning Products Cause COPD

Previous studies had linked exposure to disinfectants with breathing problems such as asthma, but a recent study led by Dr. Orianne Dumas of the French National Institute of Health has brought attention to the fact that cleaning supplies also can cause COPD.

That study showed that exposure to cleaning products was associated with an increased risk of COPD of between 24% and 32%. The study also found that nurses who use disinfectants to clean surfaces at least once a week – had a 22% increased risk of developing COPD.

Collecting Workers Compensation for Cleaning Product Exposure

If you have developed COPD and you were exposed to cleaning products, bleach, disinfectants or other toxic chemicals at work, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced workers compensation attorney.

An experienced workers compensation attorney can help you “prove” that your COPD, asthma, bronchitis, or other lung disease is the direct result of exposure in the workplace. An experienced workers compensation attorney knows how to handle problematic insurers, and how to submit your medical records and documentation, to get your workers compensation claim approved as rapidly as possible.

Long Beach Workers Compensation Attorneys | COPD

Our experienced Long Beach Workers Compensation attorneys have helped thousands of men and women across Orange County and Los Angeles collect the workers compensation they deserve. Call our Long Beach Workers Compensation attorneys today for a free consultation.

Long Beach Workers Compensation Attorneys: 562-622-4800