Potential financial ramifications of chemical exposure

South Carolina residents who work in plastic manufacturing plants might be exposed to dyes, lubricants and flame retardants among other liquids. They may also be exposed to acetone or other chemicals that are used in machining or to add gloss to 3D printed parts. There are many dangers that workers may face such as explosions, exposure to vapors and skin issues if they make contact with these materials.

Ideally, companies will take the approach that anything that could go wrong will and create a safety plan based on that theory. As a best practice, companies should opt for sealed and contained systems for transferring chemicals as opposed to using manual transfer methods. If chemicals and their fumes cannot be contained, it could cost a lot of money to both treat workers and clean the resulting damage. It may also cost time or money to shut down a facility after an accident or to submit to government inspections.

Employers should also factor in the time it takes to document the problem and fill out other paperwork. As a general rule, indirect costs of an accident are generally two to four times higher than direct costs. Employers should also consider other costs such as paying out workers compensation benefits or fines levied by the EPA or OSHA.

Workers who are hurt after being subject to unsafe working conditions may wish to to apply for workers compensation benefits. The preparation and submission of the required claim documentation can be complicated, and there are statutory time periods within it must be filed. As a result, some claimants choose to have the assistance of an attorney.