Often when the term workers' compensation benefits is mentioned it is assumed that someone is seeking the benefits due to an injury that is suffered while conducting a task related to one's occupation. While in many cases this is of course true, there are other times in which the benefits are sought due to an illness that is brought on by working conditions.

An example of an illness that could be due to working conditions recently made news in a state neighboring Pennsylvania. A 38-year-old man who worked as a mortician was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia in 2010. The man believes that he became ill with the disease as a result of working with formaldehyde found in embalming fluid.

This assertion is not completely unfounded. In 2011 formaldehyde was listed as a carcinogen by federal toxicologists. In addition, the same toxicologists indicated that there is a risk for individuals who work in the mortuary industry developing certain cancers.

The man recently filed a lawsuit against his employer and some manufacturers of chemicals used in embalming. Against his employer the man alleges that when he returned to work after medical treatment, it refused to provide him certain accommodations including a transfer to a new facility with better ventilation or improving the ventilation at the current site. In addition, he claimed the manufacturers of the embalming chemicals knew or should have known that exposure to the chemicals would increase the risk of cancer developing.

Prior to the man's return to work and lawsuit filing he was unable to work for nine months. It is possible that during that period of time he relied on workers' compensation benefits to make ends meet.

Source: The Jersey Journal, "Secaucus resident alleges he contracted leukemia while working as mortician," Nov. 25, 2012